Unicef intervention trains us techniques of ensuring safety of our pupils – SBMC Chair Abukur Special Primary Schl  Rimi LGA KT

By Abdullahi Jalaluddeen

The School Management Commtee Chairman of Abukur Special Primary School in Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State Alhaji Surajo Dalhat has described UNICEF interventions in Abukur Model Primary school, Rimi LGA as the major pillar that acquaint both the teachers, parents and pupils with the training and techniques of preventing their pupils from issue of harassment and rape of the girls on their way to school, in the school and vise versa.

The SBMC Chairman Made the disclosure when a team of journalist sponsored by UNICEF paid a visit to the primary school at Rimi local government area of Katsina state to ascertain the impact of UNICEF interventions to the development of Girl Child Education in the locality.

 Surajo Dalhat explained that Abukur Model Primary School benefitted from three interventions of UNICEF. The interventions can be categorized into School safety and security, structure and community participation.

“Under school safety and security, we were trained on how to ensure safety of our schools and our school children. Especially when they left their homes for school, in the school and upon returning back by home. Along this process, there are often challenges particularly with regards to the girl child. For instance, issue of harassment and rape of the girls on their way. “

 To curtail this challenge various committees were set up by SBMC to ensure that the movement of both the girls and boys from home to schools are safe.

“Within the school compound, there was also establishment of safety security committees. We have G4G, girl taking care of her sister. We also have He4She, a boy taking care of his sister. These to a large extent reduce the threat of rape and other harassment. “

Surajo Dalhat maintained that another area UNICEF brought intervention  is community participation, “We received so many trainings on how to mobilize the parents and general community to not only send their wards to school but to see that those that were out of school especially the Almajiri’s were returned back to school. This yielded a very nice result.”

The SBMC Chairman noted that under the UNICEF’s School intervention Grant Much was being Achieved , saying the backyard of the  school was fenced with the fund realized from UNICEF.

“Through the effort of the SBMC, we were able to provide borehole that provide water to the general community of over 2,000 population of the school. We also enhance the sporting areas.”

“Prior to the commencement of I I’d interventions this school was a school of about 12 classroom, but with the commencement of the intervention the  enrolment drive keep on increasing , and  the school population was high. We have to lobby the govt, and now we have 21 classrooms.”

Challenges…

“The challenge is still the issue of Almajiri and formal school system. UNICEF is doing it best, but there is still a lot in that area. The school’s picked by UNICEF for the IQS . We need more intervention so that the children.”

G4G( Girls for Girls program)

“We have seen the impact of the G4G. Because the activities of G4G to a very large extent has reduced the menace of rape and other sexual harassment among the girls and boys. We need expansion of the G4G. The He4She should also need to be expanded because this will provide not only security and safety of the children but will also encourage the parents to feel free and secured in sending their wards to school without harassment