Like the Yorùbá would say, ká panupọ̀ lé ẹlẹ́yọ́rọ lọ ná, kí a tó wá fi àbọ̀ fún adìyẹ (Let’s come together to pursue the fox first before reverting to the hen). Now that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has taken up the case of the primary school teacher who slapped a three-year-old boy repeatedly, it is pertinent we return to the issues connected to this awful experience which perhaps account for the teacher’s action. Some of us were pained but apathetic by the hullabaloo, since such noises (people’s displeasure) are usually the start and the end of such matters. Maybe that pupil only has a “strong head”, like Nigerians would say, which would not make his maltreatment go unnoticed, but frankly that was just one of at least three similar cases in the last quarter of 2024 only. Should we then just continue to lament every time there is a new case or address the root causes of the reoccurrence? This piece will highlight some of the seeds germinating the untoward attitude of some teachers in Nigeria.
The first factor responsible for the abuse of students by many teachers is the fact that many of those who teach, especially in Nigerian private schools, are not teachers in the first place. These people who lack professional training do not embody the empathy, patience, and other soft skills required to impart information to people. A banker is trained at the point of employment. A graduate in the medical field will be a houseman for a period of time under the tutelage of a senior person. A law graduate will work with a chamber before setting up theirs. Sadly, anyone who possesses content knowledge is erroneously assumed to be good enough to be a teacher. It is important that schools employ certified teachers and organise trainings and seminars for them regularly.
Another factor contributing to the obnoxious act of students’ abuse in Nigeria is the poor remuneration of teachers in many private schools. While I do not dispute that there are many private schools that pay teachers well, there are much more with ridiculous remuneration. This is not even to talk about the delay in the payment of the meagre salary. Teaching is indeed a taxing job that requires teachers’ motivation. A teacher must be sensitive to individual differences in their students and only a properly motivated teacher would be at their best with such onerous task.
The government factor is also a significant and multifaceted one to the discussion. First, the government has to establish more schools to ensure and guarantee free basic education. This will reduce the conversion of every small apartment to a school with its attendant problems of unqualified administrators and teachers. The government also has to set and maintain the standard for the establishment and operations of private schools. While I know that there are such regulations for the operation of privately owned schools, the government has to improve its vigilance in ensuring adherence to the set standards in terms of staff qualification, manpower and facilities. Generally speaking, education at every level deserves a continuous and improved supervision and funding from the Nigerian government.
Crucially, the role of the media, especially social media, is deserving of discussion. Notwithstanding the axiom that bad news is good news for the media, individuals and media houses, especially blog owners, should stretch their interest beyond just reporting bad news to being genuinely concerned about improving situations. One would wonder for instance how the individual making that video could himself or herself withstand that young pupil being repeatedly hit without intervening just to have something to post on the media or to prove to some persons. While the advent of social media and blogs has made it easy to track and trace happenings, it appears like the bloggers are more interested in having news to post for economic gains than for social change. This article urges the government and established media houses to regulate the activities of bloggers and enlighten them on the fourth estate role of the media and its sanctity.
I will conclude this piece by appealing to the Lagos State government to pardon Stella Nwadigo. We can help people become better by being good to them. Man is not made for law; law is made for man. The not-so-young teacher can be thought empathy by being pardoned.
(c) 2025 Ganiu Bamgbose writes from the Department of English, Lagos State University.
