Board tasks principals on security, academic performance

By Stanley Onyekwere

Director, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board, Mrs. Yelwa Fatima Baba-Ari has called on principals of the 56 senior secondary schools to maintain the existing standard of security measures already established by the FCT Administration and the Board, to ensure schools are adequately secured while impacting knowledge to the students in the Territory.

Stressing that this was necessary in the face of the country’s current security challenges, the Director, also urged the principals to give priority to improving academic performance of the students, in order adequately prepare them for higher educational pursuit.

The Director, who made this call during a meeting with the Principals under the Board’s management, pointed out that the major aim of being in the school is to impact knowledge and bring the students up as responsible individual who in spite of peer pressure must concentrate their energy on academics for a brighter future.

She advised the principals to make optimal use of the staff and facilities under their care for overall benefit of the students, adding they should not compromise the welfare of their staff, as it would further boost their morals for effective teaching and efficient service delivery in the schools.

According to a statement by the Board’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Odugbo Sarah, yesterday in Abuja, the Director also emphasized the need for principals to ensure there is positive improvement in the academic performance of the students.

The Director commended the Principals for outstanding performance of

students in the Trade Subjects first attempt in WAEC/NECO examinations

in the FCT schools as well as their swift response during the dreaded

Ebola virus and security scare.

Giving assurance that FCT will continue to set the pace for others to follow; she also encouraged them (principals) to intensify efforts to maintain the trend.

Also, Baba-Ari directed them to ensure that the activities of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) should be curtailed especially those ones whose objectives are not enhancing the teaching and learning in the schools.

She added that only relevant clubs and society in the schools should be revive as well as creating entrepreneurship clubs in all the cluster centers to engage the students for co-curricular activities within the school environment.

She however warned against collection of unapproved fees and ensured

that correct and appropriate records in accordance to financial regulations are well kept on demand by relevant authorities.

On her part, the FCT President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Alhaji Sani Mohammed Ladan, said that the principals have mapped out various security and academic strategies to check the students’ movement and performance, with particular attentions in Mathematics and English language among other subjects assuring that they will not leave any stone unturned.

He therefore expressed their (principals’) appreciation to the Board for creating enabling environment for them to work hard; and ensure the Board’s mandate is achieved without compromise.