The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State chapter has appealed to the state and Federal Governments to collaborate effort with them to counter the challenges posed by the Coronavirus Pandemic as the schools resume for normal activities.
Speaking with newsmen in his office over the weekend, the Vice Chairman of NAPPS in the State, Mr. Sunday Adafe Jaja made the appeal as the governments announced the re-opening of schools after the COVID-19 break.
He said that while the private schools were making all preparations for effective resumption of duties, one of their major challenges was the decontamination of schools which they would want the government to support them with.
“We have put all NCDC protocol in place including the procurement of the thermometer temperature testing device, provision of a soapy running water, face masks and hand sanitizers.
The vice chairman confirmed the existing cordial relationship between the body and the state government which he noted, was why they were waiting for the RSG approval before the resumption.
According to him, “We therefore would want the government to support us with some palliatives as partners in progress,” he said.
Mr Jaja recalled that in their determined effort to improve the educational sector, NAPPS tried its best to keep the children informed through the on-line learning programme during the COVID-19 break but was handicapped by many challenges both in the body and the parents alike.
“On our part, the on-line teaching arrangement was very cost effective and the parents were not supportive either and so it had to be stopped”, he said.
NAPPS said since the exams is at hand and they are determined to ensure that the children pass their exams, the only solution in the face of the development is for the administrators to make extra sacrifice and deliver a crash revision programme to the student while the parents should liaise with their respective schools to support the system as massive promotion is out of the arrangement.
The students on their own parts he said, should read their books seriously as directed even during the forced holidays.
Mr. Jaja said the schools should be assisted to offset the teachers salaries and other financial challenges to ensure a conducive environment for teaching and learning in the interest of the children since it could be difficult for the parents to pay the past terminal fees owed.
