By: Mayen Etim
KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – As part of its constitutional duty, over 300 juveniles are currently undergoing training at Borstal Training Institute in Barnawa, Kaduna State
.
Vice Principal of the Institution, Deputy Comptroller (DCP), Peter Gona said it has met its objectives, as so many of its students who graduated have gone ahead to become successful in their chosen careers like military personnel, administrators, lawyers, accountants among others
.
He stated this at a one day sensitization program for students and teachers on peaceful coexistence and creating harmonious environment for learning organized by Centre for Peace Advancement and Socio-economic Development, (CPAED) held at the Institution in Kaduna on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.
According to the Vice Principal, the main objectives of Borstal Training Institute is to take into custody maladjusted wards and misinformed children, train them for a specified period of time and then present them back to the society reformed, changed and prepared for positive contributions to the advancement of the society, as stipulated by the legal mandate that established it.
Giving a brief history of the Institution, DCP Gonna who is holding brief for his principal, Comptroller of Prison, Musa Danzaria, said Borstal Training Institute was established in 1960, but commenced operation in 1962.
On whether there are recorded cases of relapses; he said in social institution there is no 100 per cent success, adding that there are few of them who graduated and returned home, but because of poor supervision they relapsed
.
“We have some of them who graduated, and because when a child is out of this institution he is out of supervision, so some of them relapsed due to poor supervision outside. But in general sense of it Borstal Training Institute is doing very well,” he said.
Coordinator of CPAED, Mrs. Jane Obiora said the organization works with the youth. She said often time, schools are being neglected and there is no curriculum for conflict prevention, mitigation and management,
in its schedule, hence, the organization visits schools for sensitization.
According to her, there are five pillars in the roles youth play in peace building and one is part of participation which students in their little way have to start thinking while in school how to acquire peace building skills so that when they get reintegrated to the society they become conscious that there were handed the tools by CPAED.
“So what CPAED is doing here today is to conscientize the students, hand them the tools and the awareness of peace building and development,” she said.
Speaking to Daily News Precise, one of the students disclosed that he was admitted into the institute on August, 2016, and currently a Senior Secondary 2 , who has written the West African Examination Council, (WAEC) and Joint Admission Matriculation Board, (JAMB) examinations awaiting admission into tertiary institution.
He further stated that he was into drugs and cultism before his admission into the Institute and advised the youth not to experiment in drugs as under its influence one could be tempted to steal which is not good; rather they should pursue education as it is the way forward in life.