Zamfara reopens 45 schools as insecurity ebbs

Zamfara has reopened 45 out of the 75 schools it closed down over insecurity, the Ministry of Education declared on Wednesday in Gusau.

Alhaji Kabiru Attahiru, the Permanent Secretary, disclosed when he received members of the state’s Technical Team on Education in Emergencies (EiE) who paid an advocacy visit to the ministry.

The state government directed the shutting of the schools in September 2021 following the abduction of students of Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, in the Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

“While reopening the schools, we categorized them into three groups – Green, Yellow, and Red.

“Green were schools located in areas without security threats, the Yellow group is for schools located in areas with little threat of insecurity, while the Red ones were schools in those areas with high-security risks,’’ 9Attahiru explained.

He said all the 75 schools fell into the Red group at the time of their closure as it was dangerous to allow them to remain open.

“Today, I am happy to inform you that as a result of improvement of security in the state, we reopened 45 out of the 75 schools, while only 30 of the schools remained shut.

“Government and security agencies have been working together to ensure improved security in the state.

“We are hoping for more improvement in security in the state so that we can reopen the remaining 30 schools,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary commended the EiE team for the visit and assured of the ministry’s commitment to continue to partner with all stakeholders to promote the education sector in the state.

“This is a welcome development. I consider this team as partner in progress. I am giving you assurance of total support and cooperation of the ministry,’’ he added.