The Safe School Initiative (SSI) is a flagship national effort to protect students, educators, and educational facilities from all forms of violence, disasters, and disruptions. The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) is a key implementing partner of the initiative, with a mandate to operationalize safety frameworks across Nigeria’s senior secondary schools.
Background
Launched in response to rising insecurity affecting the education sector, the Safe School Initiative is part of Nigeria’s commitment to the Safe Schools Declaration, a global intergovernmental agreement to safeguard education from attack and ensure the continuity of learning in crisis situations.
NSSEC’s Role in the Safe School Initiative
NSSEC drives the implementation of SSI in senior secondary schools by:
- Developing and disseminating the National Minimum Standards for Safe Schools
- Coordinating with Federal and State Ministries of Education, security agencies, and school authorities
- Integrating safety principles into the senior secondary curriculum and school governance policies
- Training teachers, school leaders, and safety officers on emergency preparedness and student protection
Core Components of the SSI (Senior Secondary Focus)
- Security and Infrastructure Safety
- Installation of perimeter fencing, gates, alarm systems, and CCTV
- Provision of secure classrooms and staff facilities
- Emergency Preparedness
- School-based safety plans
- Regular fire drills, lockdown simulations, and first aid training
- Violence Prevention & Child Protection
- Anti-bullying campaigns
- Reporting systems for abuse, harassment, and violence
- Safeguarding policy enforcement
- Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
- Deployment of trained counselors
- Peer support networks and inclusive student clubs
- Trauma-informed care for at-risk students
- Community Engagement
- Formation of School Safety Committees
- Partnerships with local leaders, parents, and civil society
- Public sensitization campaigns on school safety
Achievements & Progress
- Training of school administrators and teachers in collaboration with national security bodies
- Pilot implementation in vulnerable regions and expansion across states
- Alignment with the Federal Ministry of Education’s National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools
Goals of the SSI
- Ensure every senior secondary school is a safe learning environment
- Minimize school-related gender-based violence and external threats
- Improve student attendance, retention, and academic performance through secure campuses
- Build resilient school systems that can withstand emergencies and recover quickly
Partners and Stakeholders
- Federal Ministry of Education
- State Ministries of Education
- Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
- UNICEF, Save the Children, and other international development partners
- Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs)