Parents express worry over planned withdrawal of services by NUT

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has expressed worry over threat by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to withdraw its members from schools following the rising spate of insecurity in the country.

The association, which is the umbrella body of all parents of students of public and private primary and secondary schools in the country, warned against any action that will further threaten the education system in the country.

NAPTAN in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, also renewed its call on the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa to organise a dialogue which will involve representatives of various stakeholders in the education sector, especially the parents, head of academic institutions and security agencies.

Also, the parents association warned the federal and state governments not to bow to pressure by closing down schools as it would be in favour of the terrorists whose mission is to ban education.

Besides, the association decried the attempt by teachers to withdraw their services as it would not be in the favour of either the students or parents, saying that such action would mean that the government has finally succumbed to the threat of the terrorists.

Ekundayo, who urged the Federal Government to embrace collaborative efforts to fight insecurity in the schools across the country, said the war against insecurity cannot be fought and won by the government alone.

While stressing the need for all parents to be conscious of the security of their children, Ekundayo also enjoined the government to beef up security in all the schools in the country.