NATIONAL POLICY ON SAFETY, SECURITY AND VIOLENCE-FREE SCHOOLS WITH IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES
Policy · Education
A Policy that sets standards and procedures for school safety, including implementing guidelines. It targets school staff, students, and education authorities to protect against violence and abuse. This creates secure and violence-free learning spaces.
NATIONAL POLICY ON SAFETY, SECURITY AND VIOLENCE-FREE SCHOOLS WITH IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES
What Is This Policy?
A national policy establishing standards and procedures for protecting students and staff from violence, abuse, and insecurity in Nigerian schools, with implementing guidelines for states and schools.
Who Does It Target?
School administrators and teachers Students and their parents State Ministries of Education Child protection and school safety agencies
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Create safe, secure, and violence-free learning environments that enable all Nigerian children to attend school without fear of violence, abduction, or abuse.
Key Features
Safety Standards: Sets minimum physical security standards for school premises. Anti-Violence Protocols: Prescribes procedures for reporting and responding to school violence. Abduction Prevention: Addresses the risk of school abduction including early warning and community protection. Child Protection: Integrates child protection standards into school policy.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: All primary and secondary schools nationwide Beneficiaries: Students; teachers; parents Funding: Federal and state governments; donor support
How to Access
Schools must implement the safety and security protocols Report threats to school safety to security agencies immediately Parents: engage school safety committees Students: know and use the school's anti-violence reporting mechanisms Application method: Access through Federal Ministry of Education or state education authorities.
Important Terms
School safety is a shared responsibility between government, communities, and parents The Chibok abduction and subsequent attacks have given urgent impetus to this policy Armed forces and police provide security for schools in high-risk areas
Official Resources
Website: https://www.education.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Education
Legal Framework
Operates under the Universal Basic Education Act 2004, the Child Rights Act 2003, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, the National Policy on Education, and the Safe Schools Declaration (2014). Draws on UNESCO guidelines on violence in schools, UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools standards, and the INEE Minimum Standards for Education.