By Matthew Denis
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in Nigeria (NAPPS), has tasked all tiers of government to increase the surveillance activities around schools and other learning facilities in the Country.
The Association made the call in a statement signed by its President, Chief Yomi Otubela, while commemorating the Workers Day celebration, Monday.
The statement read: “I use this great opportunity to congratulate all workers in Nigerian schools,other sectors and indeed all over the world, on the occasion of the 2023 International Workers’ Day celebrations.
“We note with a heavy burden in our hearts as the issue of unabating insecurity resulting in cases of kidnapping, banditry, and the act of terrorism in the country has continued to dominate the public discourse. Recall that schools have also been targeted by the insurgents while students, teaching, and non-teaching staff have continued to be the victims of these terrorists among many Nigerians.
“While appreciating the giant strides made by the security agencies in their quest to curb the activities of these terrorists, we urge both federal and state governments to increase their surveillance activities around schools and other learning institutions in the country.
“Furthermore, as members of this great association of private schools, we have sensitized private school owners on the need to fortify their schools’ security architecture and we will continue to educate and encourage more private school owners to improve security around their schools.
“Generally the importance of workers in nation-building cannot be overemphasized and for those in the education sector in particular, I salute their courage, sacrifice, and resilience who amid the confronting challenges have continued to ensure that our children in schools are constantly exposed to quality teaching and learning in a safe learning environment.”
According to Association, it needs to be emphasized that the role played by private schools in complementing and closing the education gap for both the State and Federal has been significant over the years and as such, governments should see private school owners as partners in the collaborative efforts to ensure governments fulfill their obligations of providing compulsory and universal basic education to her citizens.
” In the same vein, we urge both the states and federal governments to make it mandatory for grants to be set aside for private schools in their annual budgets to serve as a palliative for the smooth running of the private education sub-sector.
“This appeal is imperative because of the increasing cost of running private schools in the country amid the multiplicity of levies, and taxations imposed on private school operators, coupled with high interests on loans.
“We alao enjoined governments at all levels and employers of labour in the private sector must find a way of ensuring uninterrupted labour services in the country,” the Association said.
The Proprietors urged the private school investors to make necessary reviews of their employment terms/ conditions to give room for proper motivation of workers in the private education sub-sector. It is only a motivated workforce that can add values that will enhance proper teaching and learning to take place in our schools. The same goes for workers in the public education sub-sector.
“We encourage governments to adhere strictly to the bargaining agreement regarding workers in all sectors of the economy as the economy cannot afford to be bogged down by frequent industrial actions. We should remember no nation can attain sustainable economic development amid frequent industrial actions by workers,” they said.
He appealed to the next administration to foster unity among different ethnic groups in the country and to bring about a significant improvement in the quality of life for the citizens.
According to them, this becomes imperative given the persistent rise in the cost of living, and business operations brought about by high inflation rates with its attendant negative impact on real incomes of workers in Nigeria.
They saiid: “Given the frailty and risky nature of running private schools in the country which was visibly noticed during the lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we challenge the incoming administration of the government to begin to consider the inclusion of private school workers in their palliative programs to alleviate the impact of various economic policies on the operation of private education sub-sector since all children in private schools are citizens of the country and there is need to protect their rights to quality education.”