Schools across Taraba State reopened on Monday, 5 January 2026, under a radically transformed landscape. The familiar morning routine within boarding compounds has been replaced by a daily scramble for thousands of students, who must now navigate long commutes and unreliable transport to attend classes as day students.
The Safety Directive and Its Immediate Impact
This shift is the direct result of an order from Governor Agbu Kefas, who weeks ago mandated the immediate closure of all boarding hostels in both public and private secondary schools. The state government, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Augustina Godwin, defends the policy as a necessary safety measure. She cited a nationwide surge in kidnappings and attacks on schools, noting that Taraba's boarding facilities had become particularly vulnerable targets.
However, the practical consequences of this well-intentioned move are now being felt in homes and classrooms across the state. For many students, boarding school was not just a place to sleep; it provided a structured, supervised, and stable learning environment often absent at home. Teachers report that this stability has been shattered.
Mounting Strain on Families and Learning
"Learning time has been cut," one teacher stated bluntly. Students are arriving late, exhausted from journeys that begin before dawn, or missing classes entirely. The burden on parents, especially in rural areas, is intense. Daily attendance has morphed into a costly and exhausting obligation involving transport fares, packed meals, and constant logistical coordination.
"What used to be a full-time school solution is now an exhausting daily obligation," a parent lamented. Low-income families are hit hardest, with some already considering withdrawing their children from school altogether due to the unsustainable cost and stress. The Guardian newspaper observed a noticeable rise in absenteeism in several schools following the policy change.
Deepening Inequality and Broader Concerns
Education stakeholders are raising alarms that the ban could severely deepen educational inequality. For decades, boarding schools served as a critical bridge for children from remote communities, offering them access to quality institutions. School heads now fear that only urban families or those with reliable resources will be able to sustain regular attendance.
A secondary school principal, speaking anonymously, expressed special worry for girls and other marginalised groups, for whom daily travel raises significant safety and cultural concerns that could push them out of education first. "This decision affects everyone, but not equally," the principal noted. "Some children will simply disappear from the classroom."
The criticism extends beyond the state's borders. The Christian Reformed Church–Nigeria (CRC-N), in a communiqué from its 161st General Church Council in Takum, acknowledged the real insecurity in schools but warned that shutting hostels could harm national development. While noting security improvements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the church urged authorities to fortify school protection instead of restricting educational access.
As Taraba's classrooms fill again, the central challenge is no longer solely about security. Educators say it is about finding a crucial balance: protecting young lives without closing the doors to their future. Without a review of the policy or additional safeguards for vulnerable students, they warn, the state risks leaving an entire generation behind.
