Secondary school principals in Ondo State have called on the state government to deploy more security personnel around schools to protect students, teachers and school facilities.
The principals, under the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Ondo State branch, identified inadequate security personnel as one of the major challenges confronting public schools in the state.
The President of ANCOPSS in the state, Aminu Olugbenga, made the call while speaking with journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Monday.
Olugbenga said, “Inadequate security personnel is one of the major challenges confronting public schools in this state and infrastructural facilities, equipment and students required adequate protection.
“We also have shortages of laboratory attendants, library assistants, secretaries to principals and ICT teachers are among the areas requiring urgent attention of the state government, particularly more ICT personnel are needed following the growing importance of digital technology in modern education and school administration.”
However, Olugbenga commended the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for its interventions in the education sector, particularly the recruitment of teachers, rehabilitation of schools and payment of teachers’ salaries.
He said the recruitment of teachers had provided relief to public schools after years of manpower shortages caused by retirement, death and natural attrition.
“For more than 15 years, the state’s teaching workforce has experienced inadequate replacement of departing teachers, creating challenges for principals and schools in maintaining effective academic activities.
”But the recent recruitment of teachers for both primary and secondary schools has helped to strengthen the workforce. So we commended the government for this and we want to urged them to sustain the process until existing manpower gaps are adequately addressed,” he said.
The ANCOPSS president also commended the government and the State Universal Basic Education Board for ongoing renovation and rehabilitation projects in public schools, describing the interventions as important to improving the learning environment.
Olugbenga called for stronger partnerships among the government, parents, old students, philanthropists, communities and development partners, saying government alone could not provide all the resources required to develop the education sector.
He said ANCOPSS would continue to support policies and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education in Ondo State while encouraging the government to consolidate its interventions.
“Education remains one of the strongest foundations for the development of any sane and progressive society. Investing in teachers, students, infrastructure and educational support services is an investment in the future of Ondo State,” he said.