The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) says parents should be blamed more for students’ immoral conduct.

“Parents are not usually present to monitor their children at home due to pressure from work and unending heavy vehicular traffic, especially in the city,” said NAPPS president Yomi Otubela in a statement on Thursday. “This makes many parents leave home as early as 5:00 a.m. and return home from 9:00 p.m. So, there is no quality time with the children.”

Mr Otubela was reacting to the sex tape involving pupils of Chrisland School, Lagos, while on a trip held in Dubai.

He said parents were to take the larger portion of the blame in shaping their children to become responsible in society.

“Most studies show that parents are to take the larger portion of the blame for children’s behaviour. Hence parents must take a greater role in shaping their children’s future by inculcating morally acceptable behaviour in them,” the NAPPS president further asserted. “They must bear in mind that children’s moral development begins at home. The school is to complement their efforts.”

The national president said the neglect of parental responsibility from home had made it a task for schools to achieve much progress.

Mr Otubela said the faulty background of students would hinder effective collaboration with the school management to address the identified challenges.

He added that only effective collaboration between the school and the home would help to bring out a morally-rich child.

“It is sad to note that this much-needed collaboration has been lacking in our educational system due to societal pressure, which has created a communication gap between the school and home,” admitted the NAPPS president.