Private School Operators Seek Govt Support

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), has called on the Rivers State Government to carry the association along in its scheme of things in order to give them a sense of belonging.

The Rivers State Chapter President of NAPPS, Dr, Peter Harrison, who spoke with The Tide, recently, said the association has so far demonstrated good working relationship with the state government.

Harrison, who reacted based on the just-concluded NAPPS Day, said the group is out to compliment government’s efforts in the area of educational development.

He said it would be a worthwhile venture if the state government remembers the group in some public functions like Children’s Day celebration and Independence Day, adding that a bus donation by RSG will go down well with the association.

With this year’s NAPPS Day celebration theme: “Examination Ethics”, he said since the state government co-opted them into examination monitoring, that they have not disappointed in any way.

According to him, the co-opting of the group (NAPPS) into examination monitoring team, was a clear indication of the state government’s interest in the association, saying that his team would do more if other opportunities come their way.

On whether private schools can still cope following the high speed of educational development in the state, he explained that private school owners are not in contestion with the state government, while applauding the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi over her commitment to educational development in the state.

He further explained that the NAPPS Day celebration, was in appreciation of the dogged contributions of private school owners in the country’s educational development as well as its support to the government at all levels.

Meanwhile, he has appealed to concerned authorities to include NAPPS members on Education teams at local and state levels in order to judiciously aid in bringing sanity to the system.

Earlier, the National President of NAPPS, Dr.  Saidu Mijinyawa, has noted that poor welfare and remuneration of teachers in some private institutions is affecting their performance, adding that it does not augur well in the smooth running of schools and attainment of high education standards.

Mijinyawa, also called on NAPPS members to encourage their teachers in order to enable them stay longer in the employment.

However, he has congratulated the President, Dr, Goodluck Jonathan and all Nigerians for the recently celebrated Independence Day Anniversary, as he prayed for unity in the country.