The Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), has decried security threats in schools just as they asked for an insurance policy for school personnel and students against terrorist-related hazards.

Rising from its 61st Annual National Congress in Akure with the theme: ‘Managing Insecurity in Public Schools: A Teachers- student Approach’, ANCOPSS said terrorist attacks in schools were getting out of hand.

Briefing newsmen, the National President of ANCOPSS, Izuagie Anselm also said that the service years of teachers should be reviewed to 65years of age and 40years of service. Anselm said: “The Congress recommended that there should be an effective insurance policy covering schools personnel and students against terrorist-related hazards. Schools should be fenced, provided with trained guards as well as modern security gadgets. School personnel and students should be trained and equipped for self-protection against possible terrorist attack. Government should endeavour to make regular recruitment of qualified teachers a priority. There should be a political will to implement the enabling laws regarding engagement and retirement of personnel.”

Expressing worry over the rising level of security threats in schools across the country, he said: “Schools are institutions that strengthen societal cohesion, attack on them is aimed at weakening the society. The unmanaged depletion of qualified teachers in our public schools is worrisome. Extant laws on engagement and retirement of teachers are generally not properly implemented. Engagement and retirement of teacher manpower has become subject of political convenience rather than socio-economic needs.”