NAPPS tasks government on safety, conducive environment for Nigerian students

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has called on the government at all levels to be vigilant and put in place safety measures to safeguard Nigerian children and provide a conducive environment for learning.

National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Chief Yomi Otubela made the call in a release to mark this year Children Day celebration.

He said in the last few years, Nigerian children have had a fair share of the insecurity challenges that have continued to ravage the social fabric of the country, which has manifested in form of kidnappings, killings, raping, and so on in schools and at home.

While expressing hope that ongoing concerted efforts of the federal and state governments through the nation’s security apparatus will eventually yield a positive outcome in stemming the tide of violence and kidnappings currently being witnessed in all parts of the country, he stressed that schools and homes must remain vigilant and ensure all safety procedures are in place.

Noting that aside insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic has also taken its toll on Education, Otubela said its behoves education managers from both the private and public sector to unite to reverse the impact of the pandemic on children by ensuring unhindered learning activities while also maintaining safety in schools.

“This calls for policymakers, educational administrators and so on to fashion out ways to minimise the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic while ensuring that learning activities are achieved seamlessly and without interruption. It becomes imperative for the school management to imbibe a learning strategy that increases the degree of attention to safety, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that learners show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education.

To revitalize the sector, he said there is a need to improved educational contents that give room for creativity on the part of learners to thrive. He called for the engagement of technology to aid learning and prepare learners ahead to adapt to the new normal.

The NAPPS president said there must be the inclusion of leadership programmes into the school curriculum to prepare learners to take up challenges early in life.

He also suggested the adoption of improved and expanded co-curricular activities to develop talents right from the start.

Other factors to energise the sector include the creation of a learning environment that allows exploration and multiple “right” choices for learners, offering school advisories and peer mentoring, creating a safe and healthy learning environment and lastly guiding learners to demonstrate what they have learnt.

“As we join the rest of the world to celebrate 2021 Children’s Day, we must all strive to work together towards making a better place for all children to live, learn and achieve their potential. In addition, governments at various levels should also create an environment that will not only support the mental wellbeing of children but where children feel loved, secure, happy,” he said.