Chrisland school, in a recent court session at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, Mr. Yakubu Abisogun, a Deputy Director hailing from the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, provided crucial testimony regarding the compliance of Chrisland Schools, Ikeja, with the state’s safeguarding and child protection policy. Abisogun, a distinguished Level-16 Social Wellbeing Officer within the ministry, shed light on the shortcomings observed in the school’s emergency preparedness protocol during an inter-house sports event.
During his testimony, Abisogun highlighted a significant deficiency in the school’s capacity to handle emergencies, emphasizing the alarming scarcity of resources such as medical personnel and ambulances. He pointed out that despite the sizable student population, the school had only one nurse available and lacked a dedicated ambulance service to swiftly transport students to hospitals in case of emergencies. Such inadequacies, Abisogun stressed, posed a grave risk to the safety and wellbeing of the students, a matter of paramount concern for the ministry.
Moreover, Abisogun underscored the absence of a designated personnel responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Child Safeguarding Protection Policy, a requirement stipulated by the state’s regulatory framework. This glaring oversight, he explained, contravened established protocols and left the school vulnerable to potential safety breaches. Additionally, he noted the absence of a retainer hospital in close proximity to the school, as mandated by the policy, further exacerbating concerns regarding emergency response capabilities.
The revelation of these deficiencies came to light as part of the ministry’s comprehensive assessment of educational institutions across the state. Abisogun, serving as the state’s coordinator for all districts, provided insights into the extensive scope of the ministry’s oversight responsibilities, which encompassed over 1,722 private and public secondary schools categorized into various districts based on their geographical locations.
Furthermore, Abisogun elucidated on the ministry’s proactive approach to safeguarding children’s welfare, highlighting the establishment of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Alliance group. This collaborative initiative, comprising relevant agencies dedicated to ensuring child safety, serves as a vital platform for information-sharing and coordinated action in response to emergent issues, such as the incident at Chrisland School.
Upon learning of the safety lapses at Chrisland School, Abisogun recounted the ministry’s swift response, which included convening an emergency virtual meeting to address the situation. Through diligent investigation, it was discovered that over 500 students, out of a total of 556, had been transported to the sports venue without proper safety clearance, thereby violating established protocols and endangering the welfare of the students.
Conclusion
Chrisland schools
Abisogun’s testimony underscored the critical importance of stringent adherence to safeguarding and child protection policies within educational institutions. By exposing systemic deficiencies and advocating for proactive measures to ensure student safety, the ministry seeks to uphold its commitment to the wellbeing of the youth and promote a secure learning environment conducive to their overall development, chrisland school.
Source: guardian.ng
