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Tag: ANCOPSS

  • ANCOPSS seeks better teacher welfare, digital reform in schools

    ANCOPSS seeks better teacher welfare, digital reform in schools

    The National President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Muhammad Ibn Musa, has called on the government to make teaching more attractive for young graduates, while urging a participative approach to school management for optimal staff performance.

    Speaking during the ANCOPSS National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Enugu, Musa, who is also the Principal of Government College, Nguru, Yobe State, stressed that the country’s educational system must be restructured to meet contemporary challenges, especially in light of the federal government’s push for digitalisation of examination processes.

    “The purpose of the NEC meeting is for us to discuss issues affecting education, not just in our individual states, but across the country,” Musa said.

    “With the current digitalisation drive by examination bodies, it is important for us as stakeholders to brainstorm on how these innovations can be effectively implemented across all states,” he said.

    The meeting, themed “Rejigging the School Management: Application of Participative Management Approach by Principals for Maximum Staff Performance”, brought together principals and education administrators from across Nigeria to share insights on improving school leadership and adapting to emerging realities in the education sector.

    Musa emphasized the critical role of school principals as frontline managers in the education system.

    “We are the soldiers in the field. We know where policies will work and where they won’t. Our role is to advise governments at all levels on how best to run secondary school education,” he stated.

    Read Also: ASUSS, ANCOPSS endorse APC candidate

    Speaking on the declining appeal of teaching as a career, the ANCOPSS president decried the low remuneration and poor working conditions faced by teachers, warning that the sector may continue to lose top talent unless deliberate efforts are made to improve teachers’ welfare.

    “All tribes in Nigeria have proverbs that reflect our situation. If you want to catch flies, you must keep a trap. Likewise, to attract qualified graduates into the teaching profession, the job must be made attractive,” Musa said. “If teachers are poorly paid and unable to take care of themselves and their families, how can we expect commitment and excellence from them?”

    He cautioned against the age-old rhetoric of “teachers’ rewards being in heaven,” noting that educators deserve tangible, immediate incentives for their essential service.

    “We want our rewards here on earth. Gone are the days when poverty was our trademark,” he declared.

    Musa further called for a more practical and entrepreneurial approach to education that can empower graduates to be self-reliant.

    “Education should equip people with skills that allow them to thrive, even outside government employment. A system that only trains graduates to seek office jobs is dysfunctional,” he said.

    He assured that ANCOPSS remains committed to pushing for reforms that will enhance the quality of education and make the profession more sustainable and rewarding.

    The NEC meeting concluded with a renewed resolve by members to deepen participative management in schools, support ongoing educational reforms, and intensify advocacy for better teacher welfare and systemic transformation.

  • ANCOPSS hails group for buying JAMB forms for indigent students

    ANCOPSS hails group for buying JAMB forms for indigent students

    All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has hailed a group known as Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode (MOK) Foundation for awarding Joint Admissions and Matriculation (JAMB) scholarship to 300 indigent students in Offa and Oyun local government areas of Kwara State.

    Secretary of ANCOPSS in the state, Laolu Oyawoye, who doubles as the Principal of Moremi High School, said this in Offa at the phased commencement of registration of the beneficiaries.

    Oyawoye added that with the gesture, the founder of the foundation had written his name in gold.

    He said: “Recently, we were at Offa Grammar School Auditorium where students were awarded scholarships spanning over 130 students through the efforts of MOK Foundation.

    “Today again, we are here to give JAMB scholarships to students, courtesy of the MOK Foundation. MOK has written his name in gold with what he is doing. He is building the community.”

    The vice principal prayed for the foundation, admonishing the students to utilise the opportunity and be committed to their academic careers.

    The registration is being done in batches starting with 250 and an additional 50 beneficiaries.

    Read Also: COVID-19: FCT Schools safe, ready for reopening – ANCOPSS

    Earlier, Executive Director of the foundation, Mr. Lawal Saheed, noted that education is part of the goals of the foundation and the scholarship programme aimed to empower talented and underprivileged students by removing financial barriers to their educational pursuits. He added that the foundation believes that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their background.

    The 300 recipients were chosen through a rigorous selection process based on academic merit, financial need and a demonstrated commitment to community service.

    “We are very happy for this scholarship provided to us by MOK Foundation and we shall forever be grateful to them, “ a beneficiary, Ayomide Oparinde said.

    Also speaking, the Head of Department of Humanities at the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Mr. Muhydeen Bammeke, said the founder of MOK Foundation is not an elected official nor honorable. He said he is an entrepreneur, working assiduously to make money and give back to the society.

    He highlighted some of the previous interventions of the foundation in the areas of the procurement of tractors for free farm mechanisation, payment of medical bills of the less-privileged, security intervention, and a series of empowerment in the community.

  • ANCOPPS North-West organise training for principals in Kebbi

    Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has requested principals of secondary schools to intensify effort in proffering solution to the attainment of functional education, student enrollment and fighting drugs abuse in schools.

    He gave this advice while declaring opened the mandatory continuing professional training workshop for principals organized by North-West Zone of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) holding at the presidential banquet hall in Birnin Kebbi.

    The Governor represented by his deputy Alhaji SamailaYombe told the principals that, the three issues have become dominant in need of concerted effort and national action to achieving of the desired objective.

    The Governor welcomed the theme of the workshop “Quality Functional Education and Trade Subject in Secondary Schools” which he expressed confidence would restore educational values and absolute integrity in the system, he there for urged  the principals  to continue to play active leadership role in making their schools to become centres of inculcating good values in to children.

    He affirmed the commitment of his administration to sustain infrastructural development, provision of instructional materials to primary and secondary school as well as uplifting the general welfare of teachers including their training. He said the state government was desirous to increase pupil control in schools and has taken practical steps to actualize its strategic education sector plan.

    The commissioner for education, Alhaji Muhammadu Magawata Aliero told the gathering that, the state government has embarked on a massive renovation of existing schools structure, construction of new classroom and procurement of functional infrastructural material.

    He said the government expended two billion naira on the purchase of school furniture for use by both student and teachers of primary and secondary school levels.

    Furthermore, it spent six hundred million naira in 2018 on the procurement of textbooks and other instructional materials.

    The commissioner for education added that six Tsangaya School, were build, while forty nomadic schools were constructed in the period under review.

    He commended the principals for doing their utmost best to keeping their various school functional, urging them to continue to be God-fearing and persevering as well as check drug abuse among student.

    In separate remarks North-West Chairman of ANCOPSS Alhaji Lawali Ahmad Gusau and Chairman Kebbi State Chapter, Alhaji Mustpha Aliyu Gwandu said the mandatory training workshop has been designed as an annual affair for principals of secondary schools to sharpen their managerial skills and broaden their administrative knowledge.

    They commended Kebbi State Government for placing priority on the provision of quality education to pupils and students, uplifting the welfare of teachers and prompt payment of salary to workers.

    Also in his remark, the National President of Nigeria Union of Teacher NUT Dr. Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu expressed happiness about the cordial relationship between ANCOPPS and the NUT which has facilitate teaching and learning in schools.

    He commended the Association for organizing such an important workshop aimed at expanding the administrative capability of principals to high level.

    On his part, the Chairman State Emergency Management Agency and Public Relation Officer of the ruling party Alhaji Sani Dododo gave an assurance that the state government would continue to uphold the policy trust of the APC in providing quality education to the society.

    As a gesture of goodwill, Alhaji Sani Dododo announced that the state government would donate one bag of Lake Rice to each member in attendance to further consolidate the position of Kebbi State as the leading rice producer in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, Principals from all schools across the seven states in the North-West Zone, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa and host Kebbi are attending the training.

  • ‘Quit too much thinking to avoid untimely death’

    The Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs. Olabosipo Ogunsan, has advised teachers in Ogun State public schools to steer away from too much thinking and pay adequate attention to their health to avert untimely death.

    Mrs Ogunsan also urged the teachers to eat healthy food, sleep well and go for regular medical check – up in order to avert health danger that could threaten their lives.

    The TESCOM boss gave the advice during a joint prayer session, organised by education stakeholders in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for teachers in the state’s public schools who died in active service.

    The Prayers were offered by Pastor Tunde Amosun of the Rock Foundation Church, Abeokuta and Chief Imam Sa’adutul Abadiyya Organisation, Ismail Abdullateef.
    This is coming on the heels of an alarm raised by the Ogun State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) of the increasing number of deaths among members in the last four months.

    The State Chairman of ASUSS, Comrade Lasisi Akeem, had a week ago told The Nation that over 24 teachers have died since 2018 began, and appealed to people to pray for teachers to overcome their challenges.

    Akeem said the health of a good number of teachers in the state has deteriorated resulting in avoidable deaths, because many lacked resources to seek prompt and regular medical care.

    But speaking during the special prayer session, Ogunsan said recent medical screening exercise carried out by TESCOM, revealed that, killer ailments, like high blood pressure, sugar in the blood, high cholesterol level amongst others were prevalent among public secondary school teachers across the State.

    She advised teachers to take their health seriously by going for regular medical check up to ascertain their health status, get updates on healthy living and to always eat balanced diet that nourishes the body.

    ‘’I must tell you that the screening exercise has helped us save many of our teachers from death. I want you to take your health very important, because health is wealth.

    “Eat well, sleep well and go for medical check-up regularly and avoid thinking too much, rather, let us learn to cast our cares upon God, he cares for us and above all, let us be prayerful,” Ogunsan advised.

    And responding, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, said the fasting and prayer session became necessary to seek the face of God to avert occurrence of untimely death in the future among teachers.

    Also, President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Ogun State chapter, Chief Olatunji Ogundele, hailed the initiative.

  • Principals say political interference, poor funding ruins education sector

    The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), said on Friday that political interference and poor funding had ruined the education sector in the country.
    This is contained in the communique issued at the end of its 60th annual congress held in Port Harcourt.
    The congress had as its theme, “Political Interference In Education: A Threat to Effective School Management.”
    The principals noted that there was general poor funding of the sector across the country, adding that most of what was appropriated for the sector ended up in the pockets of top government officials.
    They lamented that appointments, postings and promotion of teachers have tilted away from merit to political patronage.
    The heads of secondary schools observed that there was high disregard for continuity in the formulation of educational policies while politically significant persons unnecessarily interfere in school discipline.
    The principals added that cheap politically motivated programmes such as free education and free feeding have been allowed take priority over payment of teachers salaries and provision of infrastructure.
    “The ethos of diligence, sacrifice and self dignity is fast losing its place among heads of schools in Nigeria,” they added.
    They urged various levels of government to depoliticise the education sector and allow the sytem to run itself freely.
    “Government and stakeholders should put in place necessary in-built feedback mechanism that will guarantee continuity in educational policies.
    ” The UNESCO 26% funding policy on education should be adopted, while prudent management of available resources is advised.
    “Adequate enlightenment and sensitisation should be put in place by stakeholders on the roles of education as solution to most of the issues that breed agitation,” they said.
    The principals further advised stakeholders to be more realistic in setting priorities in education and formulate relevant laws to insulate schools management from undue harassment.
    “Schools managers should uphold the ethics of the teaching profession in the day-to-day discharge of their duties and responsibilities,” they added.
    The principals commended the the Rivers Government for providing enabling environment and support for the congress to hold in Port Harcourt.

  • ANCOPSS seeks adoption of UNESCO recommendation

    The All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has suggested the adoption of United  Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) 26 per cent of budgetary allocation of developing countries to education.

    Also, ANCOPSS seeks more realistic education policies which should be diligently implemented.

    Chairman of the Sokoto State chapter of ANCOPSS,  Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa, who stated this in Sokoto, explained that such allocations should also be released regularly for effectiveness.

    According to Marafa, doing so would prompt governments into realising their aims of bolstering education standard in the country.

    He noted that education standard in the country had since nose-dived while stressing that” this approach will also help greatly in boosting the provision of schools’ infrastructure like structures, facilities, library materials and other sundry needs.”

    Marafa, who is also the Principal, Sani Dingyadi Unity Secondary School, Farfaru-Sokoto, called on corporate organisations to do more to complement governments’ efforts in funding education at all levels.

    “Such organisations like commercial banks and other wealthy individuals should assist immensely in funding education at all levels,” Marafa said.

    “Development partners and other crucial stakeholders should also do more in the above direction, as the era of leaving the funding to government alone had passed.

    “There should be strict enforcement of the subsisting fiscal regulations to ensure transparency and accountability in expending funds meant for the funding of education,” Marafa, added.

    Marafa, who lamented inconsistency in such policies, also called for the recruitment of competent and qualified teachers, as well as routine training and re-training.

    “The government should also ponder on re-introducing certain motivations to the teachers like responsibility and hard line allowances,” he urged.

  • ANCOPSS seeks end to politics in education

    The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has said government’s politicisation of education has greatly handicapped the maximum implementation of curriculum in schools.

    In a communiqué by the group’s National President, Hajiya Fatima Abdulrahman, at the end of its 58th annual national congress, it blamed the government for making policies that are not backed by funding and commitment.

    The congress, which had as theme: “Good School Community Relationship- A Tool for Effective Implementation of New Curriculum”, held in Abuja.

    Explaining the body’s position, Hajiya Abdulrahman said: “We said education should not be politicised; education is a capital intensive project.  If state governments for instance, declare free education from basic, even some to higher education, there should be commitment on the part of the government.  They should not use education as factors of canvassing or winning elections,” she added.

    “Education should be taking seriously, when you are going to give free education, you must make sure that you own it a duty to the citizenry and the students that whatever is needed to make teaching and learning effective should be in place.”

    While state governments declare free education, the ANCOPSS President said instructional materials for the use of the students should be made available.

    She noted that though the curriculum implementation by government has yielded some measures of academic improvement, but revealed that there was no corresponding moral improvement among the students.

    ANCOPPS recommended that the government should come out more boldly to make all and sundry know that education with curriculum implementation inclusive could no longer be the sole responsibility of government.

    She said good community relationship would promote full understanding of the rationale behind each curriculum reform and ensure maximum support by all stakeholders.

  • ANCOPSS lauds Okorocha’s stride in education sector

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS has lauded the efforts of the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, in improving the standard of education in the state.

    The body in a communiqué issued at the end of its NEC meeting held at the Teachers’ House, Owerri, the Imo State capital, scored the governor and other stakeholders in the state’s education sector high mark for ensuring the attainment of laudable achievements recorded so far in the sector.

    In the communiqué signed by its National President and Public Relations Officer respectively, Dr Fatima Abdulrahman and Alhaji Illiyasu Kirim, ANCOPSS, also described entrepreneurship studies as a possible solution to the contemporary issues of youth unemployment and poverty eradication in the country.