The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has advised school principals in the country to stay away from partisan politics.
According to the group, this is the only way to guarantee quality educational development.
The president of ANCOPSS, Muhammad Ibn Musa gave the advice yesterday at the opening of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Training (MCPT) for teachers in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He urged school principals to partner with governments to actualize dreams of developing the education sector.
According to him, principals do matter a lot, saying: “the way schools are led is more vital than ever before, and if school leaders were to sharpen their skills as they must, they need the talent to do it and this critical mandatory profession training is providing like no other.
“The school principal must work to create a safe, supportive and inclusive school environment where students, teachers, and staff feel valued and respected. All these can be adequately provided if we collectively maintain the tempo of professional development of our members,” he explained.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara who declared the programme opened, said the state government recognised school principals as critical stakeholders in the delivery of quality education in the state.
Represented by the secretary to the state government, Prof Mamman Jibril, the governor assured that his administration would sustain efforts at improving standard of education.
He noted that his administration would continue to partner both local and international organisations to take public education to greater level especially, in partnership with the school principals.
Earlier, the chairman, ANCOPSS North Central zone, Mr. Ogiri Christopher, had appealed to the Kwara State government to assist schools in the state with running cost, especially, in the face of fuel subsidy removal.
He said that the meager Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy being collected could no longer meet the needs of schools, particularly, in the face of fuel subsidy removal.
He asked the state government to regularise the disparity of salaries between the secondary schools and basic schools staff to avoid discrimination and frustration which can stand as a barrier for effective teaching.
In her speech, the chairman, Association of Retired Veteran Principals of Secondary Schools in the state, Dr. Omowumi Oloyede, commended Governor AbdulRazaq for various investments in education sector which she said is yielding positive results not only in the education sector but including welfare package for the retirees as beneficiaries of the N10,000:00 monthly palliatives.
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