By Emmanuel Elebeke

Rising from its 72nd national executive council meeting in Lagos, the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has described as unacceptable the continued poor results of WAEC and NECO candidates saying that it is an indictment on the education system in the country.

Members  therefore, called  on government and   parents to put more efforts in finding a lasting solution to what they described as a national shame.

Addressing the press shortly after its routine national executive council meeting at the secretariat in Lagos, the founder, Alhaji Babs Animashaun decried the attitude of some state governments and increasing failure of students in WAEC, NECO and JAMB examinations and even the high immoral behaviour of youths in the society.

He said the situation was so because some parents and government officials abdicated their primary responsibility of giving the children a proper training at home and in the schools.

He added that the only way the nation can get out of the woods is for parents to inculcate good moral values into their wards and for the government to review the entire school curriculum from primary to the tertiary level to align with world best practices.

Alhaji Animashaun also used the occasion to condemn what he called, “uncomplimentary policies and screening exercises introduced by different universities for prospective students seeking admission” and called for their abolition, as such exercise according to him “negates the spirit and fundamental human rights of Nigerian children.”

Animashaun who expressed gratitude for the unity of Nigeria at 50, said education has become so indispensable and the best gift any government can give its citizens.

He appealed to those in authority to put in their best  in ensuring that the education system in the country is restored to its part glory.

He also expressed deep concern on the increasing spate of insecurity in the land and wondered why Nigeria should remain at the cross road at a time it ought to be reckoned among its pears at independence and hoped that the new slate offered by 2011 general elections will enable the people write a better history that will put the country on a better pedestal.

“We are unfortunately saddled with bad education system and insecurity is becoming order of the day. The baton of leadership has been rugged and wicked. Even at 50, we are still at a cross road. We hope that the clean slate offered to us by 2011 will enable us write a better history, so that this country can see a better development,” he stated.

The elder stateman further charged the federal government and the electoral body not to disappoint the Nigerian people but bequeath credible election that will stand the test of time.

While calling on all eligible voters to go out and register during the registration exercise, he said  it is only by so doing that ex-convicts, criminals, looters and bad leaders could be stopped from occupying positions of authority in Nigeria.

He also noted with dismay the phenomenal incidence of kidnaping in the country particularly that of school children recently in Abia state and called on the Nigerian police to rise up to its duty to save the people from further threats.

As a way of curbing crime, Animashaun suggested that more job opportunities should be created to discourage all the criminal tendencies, and stressed the need for Nigerians to change their value system and idea of adorning nakedness in name of fashion.

“Our orientation have been counter to Godliness. Only when we embrace change that we can have a meaningful development,”.

While calling a new blue print of education policy and more participation of parents in school affairs,  he canvassed for a job oriented school syllabus and warned against making education unattractive for children of school age, insisting that government and teachers can’t pretend to love the students than their  parents..

In the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the National President of the association, Alhaji Musa Saheed expressed their full support to INEC Chairman Prof. Athairu Jega towards his efforts in giving Nigeria a credible free and fair election come 2011 and urged him not to relent on his efforts until he achieves his set down goals.

The communique also condemn in its totality the continuous gender disparity that exist on boy-child in the South-East zone of the country and girl-child in the North.

Also in the communique the association noted with dismay what it called unilateral and negative postures of some state governments to the genuine supplementary role s of state PTAs.

The group however made the following demands in the communique: peaceful resolution of doctors strike in Lagos state, opening of the Universities in the South-East, pay rise for Lagos pensioners, youth shunning indispline and immoral behaviour.

NAPTAN equally noted with concern with the deplorable situation of most roads across the country and called on the federal government to address the situation.