Insecurity in Secondary School Education: A Solution to Sustainable Development in Northern Nigeria

This study aimed to identify the causes of crime that exacerbate insecurity and hinder the sustainability of secondary education among teachers, parents and school administrators in Northern Nigeria. Three leading causes of insecurity challenges were examined, including school administrators' concerns about the safety of individuals and facilities, the need for well-trained and equipped security personnel to address security issues and the lack of employment opportunities for secondary school graduates in Northern Nigeria. The research questions were developed based on these causes. In order to facilitate questioning and observation of the phenomenon under investigation, a qualitative research approach grounded in the interpretative paradigm was used to collect data. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to purposively select three states in Northcentral, Northeastern, and Northwestern Nigeria and randomly select 36 parents, teachers, and school administrators. Unstructured in-depth interviews were conducted with the 36 participants. The interview questions were structured around the three research questions, and the responses were thematically analyzed. The study's findings highlight the importance of the government leveraging modern technology, such as electric-powered fences and CCTV cameras, to address security challenges and promote sustainable development in education. This paper suggests incorporating an "Education for Sustainability" subject into the Nigerian secondary education curriculum, in addition to the current emphasis on "security management" proposed by previous researchers.