Protests rock Bauchi over govt’s decision to ban male and female students from studying together

Students of secondary schools in Bauchi State have taken to the streets over a new policy by the government to separate boys from girls in schools.

Students officially resumed school today (Monday) across the state.

According to Vanguard, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Mr Aliyu Tilde, said the State government has concluded plans to separate male and female students in secondary schools in the state.

Tilde, while addressing newsmen after a State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Bauchi, noted that it would only be executed whenever and wherever it was possible.

He explained that the idea was to address moral decadence, which he said has become prevalent among students of secondary schools.

According to him, private schools would take a cue from the initiative and separate the males who would be attending their academic activities in one institution and the females in another separate institution.

He disclosed that the first phase of the decision would take place in all secondary schools in Bauchi, Misau, Ningi, Jama’are, Azare areas, while others would join soon.

He said: “We took this decision to promote morals among children in secondary schools especially those at their puberty age who have begun to experiment sex and other activities in the school. Some of the actions of these children are against our religion and culture, hence the need for the decision to protect and guide them properly.
“We have been having issues of sexual immorality in Bauchi State especially in last 10 years. At point, children of minor age in same class were marrying themselves and it was even reported in the media.

“If we allow this to continue, it will erode the gains we made in education in the last 60 years. It will also result in parents withdrawing their female children from school and locking them up at home, and you know the implications of such decision.

“Undoubtedly, God made them male and female, and expectedly, they should be attracted to each other, but that will be only for the purposes of marriage and nothing else.

“So, leaving these male and female students to study together under one classrooms or engage extra curricular activities together will not be good for us in the State, hence the decision to separate them so they can concentrate and keep themselves away from sexual immorality.”