The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has cried out against rising dissemination of fake news by some media organisations in the country.
The president, Lagos State chapter of NAPPS, Mr Amusa Olawale, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the inauguration of NAPPS school radio station in Ikorodu Lagos that “fake news is harmful to society.”
“Fake news is a harmful tool that can destroy coexistence, peace and stability of our society,” the educationist said.
He assured that NAPPS as a professional association would not allow dissemination of fake news on its radio station.
“In NAPPS, we are professional association and we can not rely on fake news.
“We are teachers, definitely we must ensure that we get to the root of any information before presenting it to the whole world.
“We know the implications of fake news, so as a moulders of tommorow’s leaders we need to be cautious,” the NAPPS president said.
According to him, the school radio will engage in only educative broadcasting dedicated to promote learning, reading and clean fun entertainment for schools age children, teachers and parents alike.
He said that the association had employed professionals who were cautious and willing to do the job in line with high ethics.
The president stressed that the school radio station was born as a result of the attendant challenges brought by COVID-19 pandemic where millions of school children were denied coming to the classroom to learn.
He added that the education sector was among the worst hit by the pandemic, prompting proprietors of private schools to leverage on technology as an alternative.
He said the NAPPS school radio was meant to be a one-stop online radio platform for daily subject teaching and would feature an array of quality educative programmes geared towards giving students, teachers and parent a unique radio experience.
He called on stakeholders in the education sector to support the great vision and collectively make it a success.
“The online school radio is as a result of several months brainstorming and hard work of the association.
“The idea is a necessity brought by the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The education sector is the worst hit, we could no more gather not assemble children in the school or classroom.
“We are left with the option of relying on technology as an alternative means of imparting knowledge to millions of learners across Lagos State.
“NAPPS Lagos State chapter has vowed not to be caught panting in the face of this new normal, in our quest to provide qualitative education to students of private schools,” he said.