From Amauche Agbo, Abakaliki
The National Association of Proprietors of Private schools (NAPPS) Ebonyi State Chapter has called on the government at all levels to beef up security architectures in the various schools to guarantee the lives of pupils and students in the country.
The Chairman of the association in the State, Elder Kingsley Igboke made the call during the NAPPS Day celebration in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The NAPPS boss who lamented on the increasing spate of insecurities in the country called on both the Federal and state governments to put machinery in place to secure the learning environments by increasing police surveillance in schools throughout the nation.
Igboke noted the need to devise an effective strategy for securing schools to reduce the incessant kidnapping of school children, terrorism, bombing and other security threats to schools by hoodlums in the country.
He further called on stakeholders in the educational sector to redouble their efforts in securing schools to guarantee a safe learning environment, pointing out the need for NAPPS members to take necessary steps by fortifying the security architectures in all the nooks and crannies of the country to ensure uninterrupted learning activities in the schools.
He congratulated the NAPPS members in their quest to remain undeterred in the face of challenges imposed on them as a result of the current economic hardship and declining exchange rate of the Naira which has continued to impact negatively, the cost of running businesses effectively and efficiently.
He started: "You would agree with me that this year has also been challenging for the governments, religious organisations, schools and individuals due to persistent kidnappings, bombings.
"I, therefore, seize this opportunity on behalf of the people to call on the NAPPS members to take a step further to fortify the security architecture in their schools. We must go beyond normal security to adopt a high-level security approach in securing schools.
"We also plead with both the Federal Government and state governments to put machinery in place to secure the learning environments by increasing police surveillance in schools throughout the nation.
"We appreciate the recent directive of the Inspector General of Police who ordered watertight security around all schools and some establishments in the country. We hope this measure will translate to a reduced incidence of violence, and terrorism in the country.
"In addition to the efforts of the governments, there is a need for us as stakeholders in the education sector to consider a change of strategy in securing schools."
He equally solicited for
perimeter fencing of schools by the owners and collaboration with the community to invest in community armed security personnel, (vigilante system) as well as the installation of CCTV in all schools.
He also sought safety/security discussions with stakeholders within the school system, Investment in armed security, especially for schools with hostel facilities and an Improved welfare package for security personnel within the school network.
Igboke while highlighting the importance of safety among school children harped on the active collaboration with the nearest police division at all times and appealed to distinguished members of NAPPS to key into several NAPPS projects/programmes both at the National and state by lending their support to reposition NAPPS.
Reacting to the prohibition of school affiliation by Ebonyi State Government during the examination, the State NAPPS boss observed there was always room for dialogue in such matters.
According to him, "we the time comes we will discuss effectively with Government, the development will help some of us to proceed with the accreditation process.
"We have our Governor and commissioner, they are educational friendly, they will facilitate the move to ensure that everybody is autonomous and when you are autonomous you will smile and make a better progress" he submitted
The Chairman of NAPPS in Abakaliki Local Government Area, Mr Umegbolu Jude thanked Ebonyi State Government for giving them the necessary conducive atmosphere to celebrate and assured them that the association would continue to be law-abiding and follow all the policies and programmes of the State Government.
