Neglect of value system, weak security, responsible for upsurge in attacks on schools –Principals
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar ]
Secondary schools’ heads under the aegis of the All-Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) have identified the neglect of value system, weak security architecture cause of attacks on schools in the country.
This was disclosed by Alhaji Mohammed Ibn Musa, the National President of the body after its National Executive Council meeting in Calabar, Cross River State.
This year’s NEC Meeting had as theme: Emerging Administrative and Management Innovations and Techniques for handling contemporary issues and challenges in secondary education.
The national president added that the near absence of stringent measures in punishing offenders has made attacks on schools a lucrative business.
He however called for punitive measures to be meter out to offenders and also a resuscitation of the value system in the country.
Alhaji Musa said, “The neglect of our value system and weak security architecture of our schools are responsible for the upsurge of attacks on schools.
“Near absence of stringent measures in punishing offenders and ransom money being paid by governments and parents have continued to encourage attacks on schools as this has become a lucrative business.
“Government and the society in general should resuscitate the value system and there should be deliberate efforts to improve the security architecture around schools.
“Stringent punitive measures should be meted out on attackers to serve as detergent”, he said.
The president also expressed concern with the reluctance of most state governments to domesticate the new retirement age and years of service in the face of alarming dearth of teachers.
As part of their recommendations, ANCOPSS also called for a shift from the ineffective analogue system of teaching and learning to a digitalized system to meet up with global best practices in education service delivery.
They also called on government and all stakeholders to invest in the provision of ICT facilities in our schools for Effective Information Management.