By Felix Kuyinu
A deputy director with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Yakubu Abisogun, has faulted the child protection policy at Chrisland School, Ikeja.
Abisogun was at the Ikeja High Court accusing the school of failing to comply with the state’s safeguarding directives.
On Monday, at the court, the Director said that the state’s ministry examined the school’s preparations towards medical emergency at an inter-house sports competition and found out that it was a testament proving the unacceptable level of protection plans by the school management.
He told the court that the school had just one nurse and no provision of an ambulance to convey any student who falls a victim to the hospital.
Furthermore, Abisogun, who was led in as witness at the court by the Director of Department of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Babajide Martins, noted that the school did not have a designated Child Safeguarding Protection Policy personnel as required by the Safeguarding Executive Order of the state.
While noting that the policy demanded that a retainer hospital is close to such venue for a sports competition, Abisogun stated that Chrisland, had none.
He continued saying, “The designated safety protection child policy officer takes the lead responsibility in terms of risk and every other information surrounding the place of event of such magnitude but in case of Chrisland School, they did not have any.
“We got to know about the incident at Chrisland School through the social media.
“We have a Safeguarding and Child Protection Alliance group, it comprises of all relevant agencies that ensures child safety.
“We called for an emergency virtual meeting immediately we heard of the issue,” he said.
Abisogun, a level 16 officer of the state’s ministry further revealed that findings showed the school had over 556 students out of which 377 were prepared to participate.
He continued, “500 of them were transported to the venue by the school and it was discovered that the Safety and Child Protection Policy had been violated because they took over 500 pupils to the venue without safety clearance.
“We concluded to meet physically on Februrary 13, 2023 at the conference room of the Ministry of Education and the meeting was chaired by Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, and other members.
“After the meeting, we invited Chrisland staff and management the next day Tuesday and they honoured the invitation.
“In attendance was the principal, Mrs Belinda Amoo, the school nurse, the school’s instructor, Mr Kuku, Mrs Adebisi, the Head of Green House, Mrs Onyema and the legal counsel.
“The meeting was a fact-finding meeting and the intention was for the school to give us firsthand information about what transpired at the inter-house sport and we all asked questions based on our professional knowledge,” he said.
He also reminisced a case of bullying regarding a child in the school and another case of negligence on the students that were taken to Dubai.
Further hearing of the matter has been scheduled to be in March 13 as ordered byJustice Oyindamola Ogala.