Assessing The Security Of Learning Spaces In Selected Primary Schools Within Ilorin Metropolis

Most school environments no longer provide the security required for effective teaching and learning. Today, security issues have become major challenges in our educational institutions, such as the gunmen attack on Government secondary school in Chibok and several ki dnappings of school children in the South-east. Consequently, this study set out to explore and assess securitysituations of public primary schools in Ilorin metropolis. Adopting a mixed research method, data were gathered through the security vulnerability checklist and In-depth interview. The data were obtained through self-administration of the checklist in 20 randomly selected public primary schools and 10 In-depth interview with head teachers in the three LGAs within Ilorin Metropolis. The findings of the study revealed that primary schools in Kwara state faces many man-made and natural safety and security challenges such as flood, theft, burglary, vandalism and kidnapping. However, despite this life-threatening security challenges, there are no adequate security measures or devices to curb the threats. The study also reveals that there are no standard response measures for security challenges. Based on the findings, the study recommends emergency response plans for managing security threats such as holding emergency PTA meetings, taking occasional roll calls of the students, constant maintenance of school facilities, employing trained security personnel and provision of modern emergency response equipment.