Alhaji Akande Kamal is chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Lagos state chapter. In this interview with Omolewa Oshin, he speaks on the measures put in place by NAPPS to curtail threat of insecurity in schools in some parts of the country. Excerpts:
Is security really a challenge in schools?
Security is a challenge to the owners of schools and there are series of seminars. Thankfully, the Ministry of Education has been in the vanguard of how these schools will secure the children under them. Right now, we have sensitise our members to put these measures in place when we resume later in September.
What is NAPPS doing at the national level with regards to the issue of Boko Harram especially in the North East of Nigeria?
Yes of course, NAPPS is not so a powerful organisation in terms of security, securing peoples’ lives. We have the military in charge of that- the federal government is taking a drastic step o make sure the issue of Boko Harram issue is put to rest. So we are hoping that by the grace of God according to the President Muhammadu Buhari that before the end of this year Boko Haram issue will be a forgone issue in this country and the proprietors in the north will be happier to see that their schools return to normalcy.
How prepared are the proprietors in securing their schools in view of the rising insecurity across the county?
The Director-General at the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Soyombo held a workshop with us. At that workshop, part of what she discussed with us was to sensitise our members on how to secure our schools starting from the gates, in terms of security. The security personnel we put there, how our gates are manned so that not anybody can just enter the school at their will, they must be properly checked. We have let our members know that coming from September when we resume, all schools must be secured.
What specific measures have NAPPS put in place to safe guide their members’ school?
The specific measures we have put in place includes among others, is securing our gates. We propose that there should be one entrance and exit gates. And for all members that do not have security personnel, we encourage them to employ professionally-trained security experts.
How do you intend to involve the school community-parents, teachers and student in the fight against insecurity in private schools?
We will sensitise our parents, call for Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meetings and advice them to come for PTA meetings all in the efforts to ensure that these children must be secured not only in the school but even at homes.