Plateau state government has officially announced that all primary and secondary schools across the state will resume academic activities on Tuesday, January 12, 2026, following an extended closure prompted by rising insecurity in the region.
The decision was disclosed in a joint statement issued yesterday by the Plateau State Ministry of Education and the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), outlining the new resumption date and the reasons behind the prolonged suspension of classroom learning.
Security Concerns Prompt Prolonged Closure
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Late in 2025, the state government ordered the immediate closure of all basic schools — including Government Junior Model Secondary Schools, public primary schools, and day schools — as a preventive response to escalating security threats and rising incidents of armed attacks and kidnappings affecting school communities in northern Nigeria.
Officials said the precautionary shutdown was not taken lightly, but was necessary to safeguard pupils, teachers, and school personnel while security agencies worked to strengthen protection around educational environments.
Comprehensive Safety Review and New Measures
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According to the statement, the government has spent the intervening period working closely with security agencies, local leaders, and community stakeholders to conduct comprehensive security assessments around school premises statewide.
Enhanced safety measures — including increased patrols, community watch programs, and fortified school perimeters — have been implemented to ensure safer conditions for learners and staff ahead of resumption.
School administrators and Local Government Education Authorities have been instructed to finalize preparations in line with the January 12 reopening date.
The Ministry also urged parents, guardians, and residents to cooperate fully with school officials and continue to exercise vigilance as students return to classrooms in the new year.
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Balancing Education and Safety
Plateau’s move reflects ongoing efforts by state governments in northern Nigeria to strike a balance between protecting lives and keeping students in school, amid a broader regional security challenge. In late 2025, several states, including Plateau and neighbouring Katsina, temporarily shut down schools as part of preventive measures against banditry and kidnappings targeting educational institutions.
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While the extended closure has disrupted the academic calendar, government officials say the priority remains the safety and well-being of learners, and that the new reopening date will allow schools to resume in a more secure, stable environment.
