The Senator representing Lagos West District, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule has moved a motion for the need to carry out risk assessment in schools across the country to determine their susceptibility to avoidable disasters and identify means to forestall them.
This is as she also moved a motion to compel elementary schools to relocate their creche and nursery classes to the ground floor of multi-storey building they occupy or the bungalow within the premises.
The academician cum seasoned administrator premised the motions on the need to ensure absolute safety in learning environment and prevent accidents especially as it concerns young students.
She recalled the recent death of a pupil of Emerald International School, Abia State who fell from his classroom located on the upper floor of the school building. She lamented the loss of the young boy’s life noting that the unfortunate accident brought to the fore the need for the red chamber to beam its searchlight on the safety and conduciveness of learning environment across the country.
Her words: “The senate should note with grief the death of a toddler David Etim Udoh on the 24th of October who fell from a school multi-floor building of Emerald International School, Aba, Abia State. Further know that the incident brought to the fore again the issue of safety in our schools particularly for babies and toddlers In creche and nursery schools in Nigeria.
“Aware that accidents do occur accident do occur including falling from multi-floor buildings in our schools resulting in injuries, temporary or permanent injuries and in some cases death. Also aware that many of these accidents may not have been reported appropriately to the supervisory state authorities to cause the activation of necessary investigation and possible sanctions.
The ultimate is for an investigation to cause state policy direction that will permanently prevent the recurrence of this heinous accident.
“Concerned that if there are state policy or not, school operators and managers are expected to display duty of care and ensure that babies and toddlers under their care are properly monitored and prevented from falling off high-rise buildings in their building and also concerned that the case of Master David Udoh is a pathetic and heartbreaking accident that requires thus senate to critically look into the issue of safety protocols in schools across the country including school building and facility design and arrangement.”
The federal lawmaker went on to urge: “The Nigerian Police to immediately commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fall and subsequent death of Master Udoh.
“The federal and state ministries of education to compel schools nationwide to locate their creche and nursery classes to the ground floor or bungalow within the school premises.
“The Federal and state Ministries of education to immediately conduct a risk assessment in all school infrastructure in Nigeria to identify hazards and vulnerabilities and identify means to mitigate school hazards and four, equally, all the federal and state ministries of education to enforce safety protocols in schools as enshrined in the national policy of safety, security and violence-free school and issue its implementation guidelines,” she concluded.
