AN ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROPRIETORS OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NAPPS) CHIEF YOMI OTUBELA FCMA IN COMMEMORATION OF ANNUAL NAPPS DAY HELD ON 12TH OCTOBER 2020
*AN ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROPRIETORS OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NAPPS) CHIEF YOMI OTUBELA FCMA IN COMMEMORATION OF ANNUAL NAPPS DAY HELD ON 12TH OCTOBER 2020*
It gives me great pleasure* to congratulate my distinguished colleagues under the foremost private school association in the country, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools( NAPPS) as we celebrate yet another NAPPS day in the annals of our most cherished association .
I, salute the courage of BOT, NEC CWC members, various leaders and distinguished NAPPS members in their quest and resolute to remain undeterred even in the face of challenges imposed on us as a result of the pandemic in providing quality education for the benefit of the Nigerian children.
The selected theme for this year NAPPS day ‘’Digital Revolution As a Tool In Revamping Nigeria’s Education in Post COVID-19 Era’’ is appropriate as it gives an insight into the plethora of challenges school owners have had to confront in the past months which indeed has reshaped the way we do things due to rude interruption on every aspect of our lives.
You would agree with me that this year has been unusually challenging for school owners and individuals as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which unfortunately led to the closure of schools in the bid to contain the spread of the virus. It was even reported that over 1.2 billion children worldwide were out of the classrooms in the wake of the pandemic. The situation which eventually gave rise to the digital revolution through remote learning as the alternative means of teaching and learning to contain the spread of the Coronavirus infection within the school environment.
This abrupt closure of schools by the government to protect the students in the country, unfortunately, brought a lot of untold hardship on private schools owners who rely heavily on school fees to meet up with obligations such as payment of staff salaries, operational costs and repayment of loans obtained from various financial institutions.
Therefore, the reality of the abrupt closure of schools and the sudden break in the economic cycle of private schools due to the present COVID- 19 pandemic was rather challenging for our members and up till this moment, our members are still struggling to overcome the impact of the pandemic.
I must admit that in our country, few sectors have been as severely affected as the private education sub-sector. The situation which got worsened by the fact that the education sector took a longer period to reopen compared to most sectors of the economy.
Given this unfortunate development, NAPPS in its effort to ensure that the interest of members was safeguarded in the equation of things in the country set the ball rolling by making several moves through letters, virtual engagements etc to both the Federal Government and Governmental agencies to push for palliatives to cushion the effect of the pandemic on members.
Also, NAPPS organized several press conferences and granted several interviews which were widely publicized in various media outlets to communicate the minds of private school owners to the Federal and State governments regarding the challenges faced by private school owners in the country.
For record purposes, several steps and actions were taken to address the issues, but few would be mentioned here as follows;
NAPPS wrote a letter to the Economic Sustainability Committee headed by the Vice President of Nigeria Prof. ‘Yemi Osinbajo to advise Central Bank of Nigeria to issue a directive to financial institutions to put in place plans to restructure existing loans & terms for private school operators by granting special concessions and a minimum of a 1-year moratorium on repayment of existing loans. This is because schools were still in session and expecting school fee payments before the pronouncement of the lockdown.
NAPPS submitted a letter to the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria to include and consider private school operators in the country as a matter of priority in the N50 Billion Targeted Credit Facility for households and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and also
NAPPS also requested from CBN to grant private school operators access to single-digit interest and long-term loan facility (minimum of 10- year tenure) from the government established financial Institutions such as Bank of Industry, NIRSA and others. This is necessary to aid the recovery process of private schools after COVID-19 pandemic is over.
NAPPS submitted a letter to the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)seeking a virtual sensitization programme to be conducted by the NCDC officials to enlighten NAPPS members, school health personnel on ways to prevent the spread of COVID 19 infections in schools ahead of school reopening.
NAPPS submitted a proposal letter to the Federal Minister of Education for consideration of palliatives to private schools in the country.
NAPPS submitted a letter to the Chairman Presidential Committee on COVID-19 to seek palliatives for private school owners in the country.
Furthermore, based on the need to save this sub-sector due to continued closure of schools, NAPPS held a meeting with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who was ably represented by Amb. Yemi Dipeolu, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters and made the following demands to the Federal Government to support the private education sub-sector;
Educational Grants: Provision of educational grants by the Federal Government to private schools to cushion the effect of COVID- 19 pandemic thereby ensuring private schools can meet monthly obligations to staff
.
Non- Interest Loan: This will ensure that private schools keep running during post lockdown as parents will find it challenging also to meet up with their financial responsibilities immediately schools are reopened
.
Suspension of Interest on Existing Loans: NAPPS sought the support of the Central Bank to suspend interest on loans attributable to private schools until when schools reopen.
Suspension of Taxes, Dues, and Levies: We requested various state governments to suspend all dues, levies, taxes, etc., for a minimum of an academic session. This will allow private schools to recover from the effect of the pandemic on our operations.
e. Extension of Scope of Operation of Development Banks to Private Education Sub-sector:: The scope of operation of either the Development Bank of Nigeria or the Bank of Industry or BOTH be expanded to accommodate services to private education at compassionate loan interest and tenure.
It is gratifying to note that the representative of the Vice President promised during our virtual meeting with him to convey our proposals to the Federal Government through the office of the Vice President noting that the Federal Government would look into the issue of palliatives for the school owners. He, however, drew our attention to the fact that the federal government revenue base had been badly hit as a result of the fall in the price of crude oil internationally due to the impact of COVID -19 pandemic with its attendant impact on revenue of the Government vis a vis budget implementation
.
NAPPS suggested the re-opening of schools in batches starting with the terminal classes – Primary 6, JSS3 and SSS3 to enable them to be adequately prepared for their external examinations. It should be recalled that NECO (National Examination Council) had also suggested the recall of BECE/SSCE candidates for revision and examination. They suggested that only such students and teachers involved in the examinations should be recalled while at the same time social distancing with other safety measures should be observed.
Where reopening of schools all over the country at the same time is not feasible because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAPPS suggested that schools be authorized to resume in those states with no records of positive Coronavirus cases and those with a reduction in positive cases.
14. We believed that the continued closure of schools with the relaxation of restriction for other sectors might make these children vulnerable to ills of the society such as drug abuse, rape, kidnapping etc since their parents may not be around to attend to them.
15. Moreover, for effectiveness, NAPPS suggested that the regulatory bodies should act and supervise the implementation of the safety guidelines among both public and private schools before school resumption.
16. In line with our readiness to collaborate with the Government, NAPPS forwarded recommended safety and preventive guidelines such as the provision of running water, Infrared thermometers, proper seating arrangement, etc to different government agencies such as NCDC, Federal Ministry of Education for consideration. Also, we reported that most of our member schools have had cause to attend one seminar or the other on safety and prevention for COVID -19 in readiness for school resumption.
17. We reiterated the supportive role played by private school owners to governments at all levels in providing the much- needed education for the development of the Nigerian Child and also in the employment of a significant number of Nigerians in the country.
18. *SUCCESSES RECORDED.*
Consequent upon our several letters to the Federal Government and different government agencies to channel our demands. lt is worthy of note that we have been able to achieve the following:
I. Federal Government directed the Vice President of Nigeria through his representative to listen to our demands for consideration.
ii. NAPPS was fully represented on board of some of the committees instituted by the Federal Ministry of Education with the mandate to consider protocols for reopening of schools.
iii. The Federal Government considered the recommendation of NAPPS as regards reopening of schools in batches as one of the ways out. This also necessitated the decision of NECO to look also in that direction
iv. Our members had a virtual sensitization programme with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in readiness for school reopening
.
v. The Federal Government included private education sub-sector in the ongoing registration for Federal Government survival fund for payroll support of the MSMEs.
vi. NAPPS had separate courtesy visits to the Federal Minister of Education and Federal Minister of State for Education to seek collaboration with NAPPS.
19. *LOSS OF DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS*
*
While we appreciate the fact that despite all odds, we could celebrate this year’s NAPPS Day even though on a low key, we are so pained that during the pandemic, it is rather unfortunate that we lost several distinguished members of NAPPS to the cold hands of death. My prayer is that may their beautiful souls continue to rest in perfect peace and may the Lord console their bereaved families.
20 *CONCLUSION*
My submission to the distinguished members is that even though we have been badly hit by the pandemic, I appeal that we remain calm and be strategic in our decision making. I urge us to attend to our health regularly and seek medical attention where and when necessary and be positive and have the belief that this too shall pass because I have faith that there will be light at the end of the tunnel for every one of us.
Thank you and God bless.
Long Live National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS)!
God Bless NAPPS!
UP NAPPS! Nurturing For National Development!
Signed
Chief Yomi Otubela Fcma.
National President NAPPS.
