Principals' body urges govt to prioritise teacher welfare over "empty praises," as ANCOPSS wraps up national congress

 

 

The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has called on government at all levels and stakeholders in the education sector to move beyond paying lip service to teachers and instead improve their welfare packages to match other professions, as part of efforts to achieve the desired outcomes of the ongoing digital transformation drive in learning and school management.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the confederation's 68th Annual National Congress, a five-day event held in Kaduna under the theme "Redefining Quality Education Through Technology-Driven Assessment and School Management."

Presenting the communiqué, ANCOPSS National President, Dr Robert Ikechukwu Okorie, noted that some leaders and stakeholders in the sector have yet to fully grasp the scale of challenges facing teachers, school administrators and learners in adopting digital learning tools. These include gaps in technical skills, personnel, infrastructure and policy frameworks required to drive meaningful change in schools nationwide.

The communiqué also pointed to the absence of an instructional discipline framework, disparities in internet access and digital skills between urban and rural schools, and the underutilisation and poor maintenance of available equipment. Frequent power outages were also cited as a major obstacle to digital teaching and learning in public schools.

To achieve holistic digital transformation, the confederation said key stakeholders must prioritise human capacity building, provide appropriate ICT devices with reliable connectivity, and make realistic budgetary provisions to support the sector's digital transformation goals.

Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman of ANCOPSS Kaduna State Branch, Mr Jonathan Danbaki, commended Governor Uba Sani for his strides in the education sector, particularly for improving the welfare of education workers and setting aside 25 percent of the state budget for education.