Mr AbdulWasiu AbdulRahman of the University of Ilorin, has called on management of schools to tighten security around pupils and students in the face of rising cases of insecurity across the country.
The Sociology lecturer made the appeal on Sunday in Ilorin during the graduation ceremony of Al-Ikhlas Schools.
AbdulRahman, a guest speaker at the ceremony, spoke on the topic: “Private Schools and Security Challenges,” said that the management of private schools need to provide security for their students.
“In the process of moving from rural areas to urban settlements, there have been some security challenges between farmers and herdsmen, also banditry and kidnapping.
“The management of schools should be much aware of the community that the school is located and have good relationship with the traditional leaders and the people living in the area.
“They should also lecture their pupils on security tips and create time to discuss with the parents and guardians from time to time,” he said.
The guest speaker said that morals and values should be taught in schools, to educate the pupils and enlighten them on the importance of good behavior.
He also advised school authorities to mandate teachers to have good relationship with their pupils and make them have access to them, for the purpose of guiding them right.
“A teacher should always have a listening ear to his pupils, for them to share their inner mind and worries with their teachers,” AbdulRahman said.
Hajiya Mopelola AbdulRahman, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, also urged parents to pay school fees in due time and ensure that their wards have textbooks for learning.
The Permanent Secretary said that parents should teach their children to be punctual and responsible in order to succeed in life.
“Try and ensure punctuality of your children to enable them meet up with all the school activities,” she said.
Alhaji Bolaji Tahjudeen, the Proprietor of Al-Ikhlas Schools, said that the school was established in 2012 and had achieved many things, including graduating senior secondary school students.
“Our pioneer students have started sitting for external examination, like JAMB, SSCE and NECO,” the proprietor said.
Tahjudeen enumerated some challenges of the school like lateness of pupils to school, delay in payment of school fees and the need for more school buses to convey pupils.
He therefore urged parents to ensure that children were punctual to school, pay their wards fees in due time and contribute their own quota to the development of their children school.