The Nigeria Union of Teachers has declared that shutting down schools in Borno State due to worsening insecurity would amount to handing victory to terrorists whose primary aim is to destroy education and spread fear among citizens.
The union made its position known amid growing concerns over attacks on communities and increasing threats to educational institutions in parts of the state.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with journalists in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the union, Comrade Yusuf Tom, said teachers in the state remained determined to continue academic activities despite the prevailing security challenges.
Tom, who represented the state chairman of the union, Comrade Zali Garba, stressed that the NUT had not directed schools to shut down and would continue to encourage teachers to remain committed to their duties.
According to him, closing schools because of insecurity would only embolden insurgents and undermine years of efforts aimed at restoring education in communities affected by terrorism.
“We did not order the closure of schools in Borno State. If you close school, it is a victory for fear,” he said.
“Therefore, we will continue to encourage our teachers to teach in our respective schools, for us to continue to defeat their (terrorists’) game of seeing schools closed. That is what we are agitating for, we are not agitating for the closure of schools.”
His comments come against the backdrop of persistent security concerns in parts of the North-East, where insurgent attacks over the years have disrupted education, displaced thousands of families and forced many schools to shut down temporarily.
Borno State has remained one of the regions most affected by insurgency, with schools often becoming symbolic targets for extremist groups opposed to western education.
Despite the challenges, authorities and education stakeholders have continued to push for the rebuilding of schools and the return of learning activities in communities recovering from violence.
Tom noted that teachers in the state understood the risks involved but insisted that education must continue if society hopes to overcome extremism and instability.
He explained that terrorists often target schools because education empowers young people with knowledge, critical thinking and opportunities that challenge radical ideologies.
According to him, allowing fear to keep children out of classrooms would have long-term consequences for the future of the state and the country as a whole.
The union spokesman also pointed to the psychological impact school closures could have on students, especially children already traumatised by years of conflict and displacement.
He said keeping schools open sends a strong message that the government, teachers and communities are unwilling to surrender the future of young Nigerians to violent groups.
Tom further disclosed that the planned nationwide rally by teachers would provide an opportunity for educators to demand urgent action from government authorities over rising insecurity and repeated cases of school abductions across the country.
He said teachers were increasingly worried about the safety of students and staff members, adding that stronger security measures around schools had become necessary.
According to him, the union would continue to engage relevant authorities to ensure that schools, especially those in vulnerable communities, receive adequate protection.
Education stakeholders in the state have repeatedly called for increased deployment of security personnel to schools, improved intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration between local communities and security agencies.
Many parents in conflict-prone areas have also expressed fears over the safety of their children, although some insist that denying children access to education could worsen poverty and social instability.
Observers say the position of the NUT reflects the broader determination among education advocates in the North-East to resist attempts by insurgent groups to cripple learning and social development.
Over the years, several initiatives by both the federal and state governments, alongside international development partners, have focused on rebuilding destroyed schools, rehabilitating affected pupils and supporting teachers working in high-risk areas.
Community leaders have also continued to encourage parents to enrol their children in school despite security concerns, arguing that education remains one of the strongest tools for combating extremism and rebuilding communities devastated by years of violence.
As insecurity continues to pose serious challenges in parts of the country, the debate over how to balance safety and uninterrupted learning remains a major concern for authorities, teachers and families alike.
However, for the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Borno State, the message remains clear: classrooms must remain open, and education must not be allowed to become another casualty of terrorism.
