OLAYINKA OLUKOYA, in this piece, writes on the ugly trend of parents and students attacking teachers in public secondary schools in Ogun State, as well as steps taken by Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), government and other stakeholders to address the situation.
In recent times, students in public secondary schools in Ogun State have taken to attacking teachers or hiring hoodlums to unleash terror on their teachers.
These attacks are reportedly perpetrated, especially by students in the senior classes, on what appears to be the assumption that such students cannot be subject to school authorities as they are no longer in junior classes.
In some cases, parents lead such attacks against teachers, which have raised a lot of questions on what exactly could be fuelling the trend.
From what stakeholders have described as the disparity in student-to-teacher ratio, to lack of parental discipline, as well as the rise in criminality involving young persons, there are many questions on why such activities are perpetrated, and with parental support in some cases.
Recently, a 38-year-old man, Abidemi Oluwaseun, led two thugs to attack a teacher for beating his 15-year-old daughter at Baptist Girls’ College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the state.
Oluwaseun invaded the school in an unregistered vehicle, accompanied by two other persons armed with dangerous weapons, to attack the said teacher. He was, however, arrested by the police alongside the two others who went with him to the school.
Similarly, a parent invaded Abeokuta Girls Grammar School, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, with thugs to beat up a teacher for reprimanding her daughter. The development threw the entire school into confusion.
Findings by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that students attacking teachers or hiring hoodlums to attack teachers have taken place at several schools across the state, including Egba High School in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Itori Comprehensive High School in Ewekoro Local Government Area, Unity High School in Kajola area of Ibooro, Community High School in Ijoun, Abeokuta Girls Grammar School in Onikolobo and Ikenne Community High School.
Government must act fast to save our members –ASUSS
With the recurring incidents, the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), under the leadership of Akeem Lasisi, has strongly condemned the invasion of schools and attacks on teachers by hoodlums on the instruction of parents and students.
Lasisi, who noted that the collapse of core moral values is one of the reasons some students misbehave against their teachers, said urgent attention to address the issue by government is critical to avert breakdown of law and order.
He also called on the leadership of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) in the state to join hands with school administrators (ANCOPSS) to restore order in the affected schools and also prevent such incidents in other schools.
The union leader, however, admitted that some teachers are high-handed in handling some situations, and advised his colleagues to endeavour to administer punishment in line with the content of Article 11 of the Child Rights Act that states: “Every child is entitled to his or her respect for the dignity of his person and no child shall be subjected to torture, inhuman/degrading treatment.”
He urged teachers to have it at the back of their minds at all times that they play the roles of ‘in loco parentis’ (acting in the place of the parent) while the children are in school.
“Their mental, psychological, physiological, and emotional stabilities should be our utmost priority and concern. We are smiths, so, patience and calmness will be needed to reform many of our students because society, with its many ills, is willing to make our job appear impossible,” he added.
Govt should constitute State Disciplinary Committee —ASUSS, PTA
Worried by the development, in a communique jointly signed by Comrade Akeem Lasisi of ASUSS and State Chairman of PTA, Comrade Joseph Banjo, the two organisations urged the Ogun government to constitute a State Disciplinary Committee which comprises the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), PTA, ASUSS, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogun Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and other relevant security agencies to handle severe disciplinary matters.
While describing the lack of capacity on the part of school administrators to take pro-active disciplinary measures on erring students without recourse to certain quarters as a major challenge, they advised government to empower the PTA structure with support levy of N2,000 for each student per term to give PTA the leverage on assisting in education.
ASUSS and PTA insisted that any student caught assaulting any of the teachers should be brought to book with stiff penalties such as expulsion, and denial of admission to any other public secondary school within the state to discourage such act and to serve as deterrence to others.
They also agreed that policies on discipline should be consistent and relevant to present-day realities.
“That any of the staff (teaching or non-teaching) found wanting in the course of any occurrence of school disturbance(s) after thorough investigation should be made to face severe disciplinary action forthwith. In conclusion, we would strongly appreciate immediate action on these resolutions to avert further deterioration,” the communique reads.
We’ll not condone any act of lawlessness in our schools –Govt
The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbagbu, at a meeting with the stakeholders in the education sector, urged teachers and school administrators not to be discouraged from discharging their duties in view of the reported incidents.
Arigbagbu assured the school authorities that the Dapo Abiodun-led government would keep giving utmost support and ensure that their safety is prioritised.
The commissioner said any student found guilty of unruly behaviour would be expelled and prosecuted alongside their accomplices.
Arigbagbu also hinted that those that were caught for breaching peace in some schools have been arrested and charged to court accordingly.
While saying his ministry would collaborate with law enforcement agencies such as the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), So-Safe Corps and others to ensure that normalcy is restored in schools, he expressed the displeasure of the governor regarding the development, and advised parents and guardians to monitor their wards and call them to order at all times.
“The governor is really worried about the unruly trend of hoodlums coming into our schools to beat up our teachers, and he has frowned at such acts of indiscipline. Therefore, any student caught in this act would be made to face the full wrath of the law alongside their accomplices.
“Ogun State is known for being the home of respectable and responsible citizens and we will not allow any act that would tarnish our image,” the commissioner warned.
He said his ministry would look into the immediate and remote causes of the unruly behaviour and find ways to tackle it, just as he advised teachers to give a good account of themselves at all times.
He charged parents that have complaints against any teacher to channel their grievances to the principals and the ministry, and promised that such reports would be addressed accordingly.
Why Ogun govt should collaborate with School Crime Prevention Corps –Folayinka
The Commandant of the National School Crime Prevention Corps, Ige Folayinka, while reacting to the development, sought collaboration with the state government to checkmate the attacks.
He said those causing breach of peace in the schools have minds that are «wounded», «faulty» and «deteriorating», hence the need for reorientation and counselling.
«We need to nuture and treat the minds of these students. Their minds are wounded, faulty and deteriorating. Once this is done, then we will put up School Crime Prevention Officers because not everybody can properly mentor the students. We need to sensitise the mind of these students,» Folayinka added.
Meanwhile, two of the victims, when contacted, said they are not allowed to speak on the subject matter.
It was, however, learnt that some of the perpetrators, including students, arrested are under investigation and might face prosecution which would serve as deterrence to others.
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