Ben Ezechime, Enugu
School Administrators and Proprietors in Enugu State have been advised to brace up with their responsibilities in implementing School Communities Environmental and Social Safeguarding (SCESS) policies and practices in their schools.
The Permanent Member III in Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Hon. Ego Aja, gave the advice while speaking at a one-day presentation/meeting organised for the Environmental and Social Safeguard Team of ENSUBEB in Enugu.
He urged participants to give their total support to ensure a secure/safe atmosphere conducive to learning and personal development in our schools.
Hon. Aja, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Board, Associate Professor Hyginus Banko-Okibe, on the occasion, said that the board would continue to support the Team and other stakeholders to prevent bullying, harassment, sexual assaults, exploitations or abuse, discrimination, and violence as well as promoting mental health and well-being.
She, therefore, appealed to them to do the needful to cascade what they learned from the training down to various schools and also help monitor their implementation.
In her lecture, the Legal Officer Social Safeguarding National Team UBEC Office Abuja, Barr. Ogochukwu Ezenwafor, said that School Communities Environmental and Social Safeguarding (SCESS) was a holistic approach aimed at ensuring the well-being and safety of pupils, educators, and surrounding communities within the educational environment.
According to her, it encompasses policies, practices, and initiatives designed to promote a nurturing, inclusive, and secure/safe atmosphere needed for teaching and learning.
Barr Ezenwafor gave out some key safeguard areas including environmental safety, sustainable infrastructure, waste management, and recycling, adding that parents and guardians have a vital role to play in reinforcing School Communities Environmental and Social Safeguarding (SCESS) at home and in the communities.
She explained that (SCESS) addresses the social dynamics and challenges present within school environments, including issues related to equity, diversity, care, and inclusion, and therefore calls for collaborative efforts of all to enhance environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and pupil support programmes.
