BULLYING remains a noxious issue in Nigerian schools, with detrimental effects on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of students.The recent cases of bullying and physical harassment at the Lead British International School, Abuja, have again underlined this social deviancy, drawing the attention of Nigerians to the menace in Nigerian schools, both private and public.

Various studies put bullying in Nigerian schools between 70 per cent and as high as 85 per cent. Despite its prevalence, there is a glaring absence of comprehensive anti-bullying policies to address the issue directly.This should change with a focus on it at every level of education.

Bullying takes various forms, including physical violence, verbal abuse, social exclusion, and cyberbullying. It can be student to student, teacher to student, or even student to teacher.

It occurs across all age groups and can have long-lasting consequences for both victims and perpetrators. In Nigerian schools, bullying often goes unchecked due to a lack of awareness, inadequate reporting mechanisms, and a culture of silence that perpetuates the cycle of abuse.

From primary school, cult groups threaten and force their colleagues to join their nefarious groups against their will. This is more pronounced at the secondary and tertiary tiers.

In the case of the Abuja international school, a deluge of videos has surfaced online after the initial one involving female pupils. The female pupils were slapping a classmate repeatedly in the video.

The other videos that followed the initial one captured how senior students manhandled and physically abused junior students over flimsy matters.Some pupils allege that when matters like this are reported to the school authorities or police, it is treated with levity.

In the blink of an eye, the Federal Government stepped in, setting up an investigation panel. It should not end there. All the bullies should be dealt with and made to face the sound of the music they created.

But things should be done properly. The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, who visited the school, was overzealous and overreacted. She should have allowed the investigation into the matter by the school to run its normal course before interfering and shutting the school for three days. Shutting the school for three days is excessive.

Moreover, this is first an education matter. By not allowing the Department of Education in the Federal Capital Territory to do its job, she set a bad precedent.

In 2021, there was an alleged case of bullying at a popular private college in Lagos. The victim, who later died, was allegedly beaten by senior students till he was injured. Despite this, cases of bullying by other pupils in the school were not addressed.

The year before, a story broke of Don Davis, a young boy of 11 years and a Junior Secondary School student at Deeper Life High School, Uyo. Davis’s story came to the public when his mother, Deborah Okezie, posted his photos and videos on social media, describing how the young lad was physically and sexually molested by his seniors, and starved by the school authority for bedwetting.

The school authority was said to have taken the punishment a step further by moving him from his hostel to a more senior hostel where he was frequently assaulted by his seniors. Sadly, Don died.

In 2018, in a special school for the deaf in Kuje, Abuja, an 11-year-old boy was sodomised and forced to perform oral sex on older schoolmates in 2018.The boy, using sign language spoke about being driven out of school in the night to a gathering where men conducted rituals, drew children’s blood, and forced them to perform erotic acts or get killed. The boy said he was brutalised whenever he refused to do as instructed.

The Government Secondary School Kwali, Abuja made the headlines in August 2021 when reports erupted of a teacher who beat and killed a 13-year-old JSS 2 student.The boy was said to have come under heavy flogging by his teacher for failing to complete his assignment, even though he was said to have taken ill.The boy had visited the school clinic but couldnot get medication because he had not eaten that day.

These cases underscore the need for a national anti-bullying policy across all Nigerian schools.

Nigeria lags many other countries in enacting legislation or policies specifically targeting school bullying.

Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have implemented comprehensive anti-bullying policies that prioritise prevention, intervention, and support for victims. These policies include clear definitions of bullying, reporting procedures, disciplinary measures, and resources for education and awareness.

The absence of an anti-bullying policy in Nigerian schools leaves students vulnerable to abuse and undermines their right to a safe and supportive learning environment. An effective anti-bullying policy would provide a framework for schools to address bullying incidents promptly and effectively, promote a culture of respect and empathy, and empower students to speak up against harassment.

An anti-bullying policy should encompass several key components, including a clear definition of bullying, reporting procedures, investigation and intervention, support for victims, education and awareness, and punishment for perpetrators. Part of the punishment should be the expulsion of bullies when cases are established against them.

Bullying in Nigerian schools is a serious issue that demands urgent attention and action. Implementing an anti-bullying policy is essential to protect the rights and well-being of students, create a safe and inclusive learning environment, and cultivate a culture of empathy and respect. It is time for policymakers, educators, parents, and students to come together and prioritise the eradication of bullying in Nigerian schools.

Only through collective efforts and commitment can we ensure that every child can learn and thrive without fear of harassment or intimidation.

For parents, bullying is a two-edged sword. On one part, there are parents whose children are the victims.To save their children, parents should be close to their children. For children in boarding, parents should not miss their open day visits, using it to investigate the emotional status of their children. If a child who has been performing well academically suddenly starts turning in bad grades, the parents should pay attention to the child.

On the flip side, some parents raise bullies, wittingly or unwittingly by always dismissing complaints against their children or over-indulging them.If they are not stopped, these child bullies might develop into something more sinister along the line. (Sunday Vanguard)

Update news