Since Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Nigerians have been treated to the ordeal of a 45-year-old teacher, Stella Nwadigo, in a viral video slapping a three-year-old student at intervals for not learning to write numbers fast.
Not a few Nigerians were perplexed about what a three-year-old child was doing with the task of writing numbers from 1 to 60?
The clip attracted public condemnation and outrage, leading to the teacher’s arrest on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, and transferred to the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters the same day after preliminary investigations. The victim was taken to a medical facility for adequate medical attention.
The next day, Nwadigo was arraigned at the Ogba Chief Magistrate Court. The poor teacher was accused of assaulting Abayomi Michael, a class one pupil of Christ-Mitots International School in Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The prosecutor said Nwadigo indecently dealt with the three-year-old pupil and assaulted him by giving him fist blows consistently on his face, which caused him injury and swollen face.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 135 and 172, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. Consequently, Magistrate Olabisi Kusanu granted her bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum who are gainfully employed.
Nwadigo was thereafter remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending perfection of the bail conditions. The case was then adjourned to February 18 for continuation of hearing.
Pronto, Nwadigo’s employers threw her under the bus. The school condemned the teacher’s action, describing it as unacceptable and suspended her indefinitely.
The school’s statement reeked of bile: “We are aware of a deeply troubling incident involving a teacher engaging in physical discipline of a student in a completely unacceptable manner. As an institution deeply committed to fostering a culture of respect, care and dignity, we are horrified by this incident and wish to make it clear that such actions will not be tolerated.”
The school said that its immediate and decisive action reflected its zero tolerance for misconduct and its obligation to safeguard every child under its care. It said that it had apologised to the pupil and his family.
“We have reached out to them to express our regret. We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we work to address this matter responsibly and comprehensively.
“We will be organising mandatory training sessions for teachers to reinforce child protection protocols, emphasise positive disciplinary practices, and cultivate greater sensitivity in interactions with students.”
This concluding part of the school’s statement has brought to the fore the need for professionalism in the primary and secondary levels of the country’s education sector, both private and public.
The sordid situation in private schools calls for concern on the part of regulators. The sector lacks professional teachers who understand the application of punishment. Due to unemployment in the land, private schools have become the dumping ground for unprofessional teachers who can hardly differentiate between torture and correction.
Rather than focus mainly on how to punish Nwadigo for her mistake, the nation’s educational policy makers need to do more through training and retraining of teachers on professionalism. Teachers must know that punishment must be done with love; correction measures on students, especially children must be applied to correct and not to harm.
While professionally trained teachers know the difference between what constitute torture and correction, the quacks lack the understanding that punishment must be effected with moderation such that infants or learners can adjust to what is normal and correct.
But more importantly, the country’s educational system needs overhaul. The instant case has necessitated many questions, especially at what age should we really enroll our children in schools?
Although the nation’s policy specified that children should begin formal education at age six, parents are now too eager to railroad their children through schools from as early as age two. They fail to understand that children below six are still developing motor skills and should not be expected to handle tasks beyond their levels.
Nigerians should understand that rushing toddlers through schools does not guarantee brilliance or perfect future. Conversely, it gives teachers unnecessary hassles as they grapple to convince parents that their investment in early education of their children is not in vain. Thus, they do everything to make the children learn.
In Nwadigo’s case, we call for restraint on everybody’s part. We must not throw away the baby with the bathwater. The poor teacher has suffered untold humiliation and should not be punished beyond a reasonable level.
“Although the nation’s policy specified that children should begin formal education at age six, parents are now too eager to railroad their children through schools from as early as age two.”
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