Oyo unveils Safe School Committee to end violence in schools

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students through the establishment of a Safe School Committee, a sustained collaboration with security agencies to curb violence in schools.

Disclosing this development while receiving members of the Safe School Civil Defence Team in his office, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, noted that children remain invaluable assets whose physical and mental well-being must be protected, particularly within the school environment.

He noted that schools must remain safe spaces for learning, free from all forms of violence, which makes collaboration with security agencies essential.

In his remarks, the Team Leader of the Safe School Civil Defence Corps, Ogunyinka Micheal Rotimi, said their visit to the commissioner was aimed at strengthening existing collaboration between the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the State Ministry of Education.

He explained that the Safe School Team has been organizing security awareness programmes for students, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff, to reduce threats and violence in schools.

Rotimi, however, called for increased government support and collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of the initiative.