The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has urged all levels of government to stop offering what it called "empty praises" to teachers and instead prioritise funding for their welfare, training, and digital infrastructure. The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of its 68th Annual National Congress held in Kaduna, themed "Leading the Digital Leap, Redefining Quality Education through Technology-driven Assessment and School Management." Dr. Robert Ike Okorie, National President of ANCOPSS, read the statement, warning that Nigeria's digital education efforts would fail without investment in people, systems, and infrastructure. The principals stressed that teachers cannot drive digital transformation if they lack computers, internet access, training, and fair remuneration.
ANCOPSS highlighted a contradiction between society's verbal recognition of teachers as "nation builders" and the inadequate support they receive. It noted that many schools have digital equipment that remains underused due to teachers' lack of technical knowledge and frequent power outages. The communiqué pointed to disparities in internet access, device quality, and computer literacy among students as major barriers to equitable digital learning. The body called for a comprehensive framework that includes reliable electricity, internet connectivity, offline learning options, teacher training, technical support, and cybersecurity. It welcomed Kaduna State's reported allocation of 25 percent of its 2026 budget to education but stressed that sustainable progress requires nationwide commitment, not isolated state-level actions.
ANCOPSS criticises the gap between public praise for teachers and the lack of material support despite repeated calls for reform. If governments continue to celebrate educators without providing basic tools like electricity and training, digital education policies will remain symbolic. The congress insists that real progress must be measured by classroom outcomes, not procurement figures or budget announcements.
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