The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, says the current state of insecurity in the country has set the nation back in its struggle to address the issue of out-of-school children.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the President of the Association, Mr. Sola Adigun, expressed worry that many children have shunned school due to the fear of being kidnapped.
According to him, government and security agencies need to show more concern and urgently address the security challenges before they collapse the education system.
He said many schools in volatile areas now record poor attendance, low academic performance, and a mass exodus of teachers who no longer feel safe.
The ASUSS President, therefore, called for increased security presence around schools, the full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, and closer collaboration between communities, school authorities, and security agencies.
He also urged state governments to provide emergency education support and psychosocial care for children already traumatized by insecurity, stressing that securing schools must become a national emergency.
