Nigerian secondary schools heads condemn abduction of school girls in Borno

The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, has lent its voice to the growing global outrage against the abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state.

ANCOPSS, an umbrella body of all principals of secondary schools in Nigeria, issued a communique at the end of its five-day 57^th annual national congress, held in Ibadan to frown at and condemned the incident, as well as the spate of insecurity in schools across the country.

The national president of ANCOPSS, Fatima Abdulrahman, who presented the position of the association to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, also traced the many social evils bedeviling Nigeria to ‘lopsided or poor education status’ in the country.

“Congress in session condemned in totality the activities of the insurgents and the abduction of over 200 female students of GGSS Chibok in Borno state, and urged the abductors to release the students immediately,” the statement, signed by the president and Ahmed Madugu, National Public Relations Officer, read in part.

Describing as apt the choice of “Education: An Investment in Security” as the 2014 conference theme, Mrs. Abdulrahman stressed the need for governments at all levels in the country to pay attention to education to reduce security risk among the people.

The congress also made case for the promotion of e-learning, which, it said was not receiving deserved priority in many states of the country.

While suggesting ways to address the problems associated with illiteracy, ANCOPSS laid down 10-point recommendation.

It called on all stakeholders, particularly governments, to ensure that at least 26 percent of the nation’s annual budget is committed to education, as recommended by the UNESCO.

“Governments at all levels as a matter of priority should institutionalize and sustain security of lives and property in the country.

“If our national development is not going to be a mirage, insecurity in all its ramification should be fought by all stakeholders.

“Increased access to education with the modern education system with high standards would help to foster security and stability in the country.

“The government should adequately sensitize the citizenry on the negative effect of these vices such as suicide bombing, kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual etc,” the communique stated.