By Danhassan Abubakar
In a renewed effort to ensure safe and secured environment for learning, a civil society organisation, Syndicate in Supporting Women and Children Initiatives (SISWACHI) in collaboration with with stakeholders in the education sector, has developed a draft costed action plan for implementation in the state.
SISWACHI Executive Director, Sadiya Iliyasu, while welcoming the stakeholders during a workshop meeting, explained that the engagement is aimed to estimate the action plan’s cost for the Safe School Declaration in Bauchi State for possible implementation.
Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, Director and Founder of Women Advocacy Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), presented an overview of the project, highlighting its three components: creating awareness, adopting the safe school declaration, and developing a costed action plan to strengthen synergy and collaboration with stakeholders.
Representing Dr. Afolabi, Program Manager Mrs. Jennifer Nwokedike noted that Bauchi State has achieved two objectives: project planning and adoption of the Safe School Declaration. The state is now at the final stage, which involves developing a financial plan for implementing the Safe School Declaration.
In his paper presentation, Professor Kehinde Olayode, a consultant from Obafemi Awolowo University, explained the Costed Action Plan Implementation Bill for Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools in Bauchi State. The plan aims to project estimated costs for the 2025-2029 fiscal year.
He said the Costed Action Plan (CAP) is a multi-year road map designed to help the State to implement broad development goals and it’s a critical tool transforming broader goals into concrete activities and appropriate coasting.
Professor Kehinde, said that the CAP also provides policy maker with a budget template, incorporating costing estimation into legal framework. However, is not the actual budget but a cost estimation and therefore, not legally binding until it is incorporated into the budget.
The meeting featured a paper presentation, group work to draft a costed action plan, group photographs, and a questions-and-answers session.
Representatives from the Ministry of Education, Women Affairs, Youth Development, Justice, security agencies, student unions, civil society organizations, and the media attended the event.