The House of Representatives has condemned the recent incidences of inhumane treatment and abuses of students in boarding schools across Nigeria.
This was contained in a motion under matters of urgent public importance on a call to condemn the trend of ‘inhumane treatment’ in Nigerian boarding schools across the country and a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the Nigerian boarding school system.
Presenting the motion, Mr. Idem Uyinme, a member from Akwa Ibom State expressed concern that bullying and other forms of maltreatment have become an ugly trend in the nation’s boarding schools.
National Campaign
While condemning several incidences of killings and abnormal behaviors in boarding schools across the country that were not investigated by relevant authorities, Mr. Uyinme stated that the recent incidence in a private school in Lagos that led to the death of a twelve-year-old student made it compulsory for the government to launch a National Campaign to stop the ugly trend.
He said “The Federal Government should without delay launch a national campaign, the campaign which should include advocacy, public sensitization, and social mobilization, as it will take the joint effort of government, school managements and parents to curb ugly happenings in our boarding schools. All hands must be on deck to curb the spread of this new trend.”
Contributing to the debate, a member from Anambra State, Mr. Odimma Chidoka, stressed the need for the house to mandate the inspector general of police to investigate cases of abuses and molestation in boarding schools across the country and punish the culprits.
A member from Lagos State, Ibrahim Obanikoro, in whose constituency the latest Bowen school incident took place, said the newly created safety standards committee on education should conduct a review of safety regulations and guidelines in public schools.
“Safety Standard Committee should be in place to ensure that safety measures are adopted in schools across the country,” Obanikoro stressed.
Mr. Kolade Akinjo, from Ondo State, regulatory agencies should be up and doing in their responsibilities of regulating the activities of private schools in the country.
Guidelines for operations
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Ministry of Education to set up guidelines for the operations of boarding schools across the country.
It mandated the Inspector General of Police to take over the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of the perpetrators of the identified heinous crimes.
The House also mandated the House committees on education, youth development, women affairs, and that of social development to follow up with the investigation.
Lateefah Ibrahim
