Adebayo Adenrele
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has raised concern over the growing impact of illegal mining on education in Nigeria, warning that the illicit activity is luring underage children away from classrooms and threatening the country’s efforts to improve school enrolment.
The union raised this concern in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Thursday at the ASUSS Building, Ajebandele, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The communiqué, signed by the National President, Comrade Sola Adigun nd the Secretary General, Comrade Kenneth Okon Chukuma, called on governments at all levels to urgently clamp down on illegal mining operations and end the exploitation of children at mining sites.
According to ASUSS, illegal mining has become a major factor discouraging school attendance in some communities, as many school-age children are being engaged in mining activities instead of receiving formal education.
The union urged federal, state and local governments to intensify efforts against illegal mining, stressing that removing children from mining sites would help return them to classrooms and improve access to education.
“NEC-in-session observed that illegal mining of minerals in some communities discourages children from attending school, as many underage children are engaged at mining sites.
“This will bring them back to the classroom”.
ASUSS also called on secondary school teachers across the country to remain committed to their professional responsibilities in order to sustain quality learning outcomes.
The union further expressed concern over the country’s worsening security situation, describing insecurity as a significant threat to education.
It advocated the establishment of a Special Schools Protection Squad (SSPS) to safeguard schools, noting that criminals increasingly regard educational institutions as soft targets.
It also appealed to government to intensify efforts to secure the release of victims of abduction who remain in captivity.
