Photo: Sylvester Oromoni (m) a student of Dowen College, Lagos, who died after a horrific encounter with bullies
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the launch of a platform for whistleblowers to report bullying cases anonymously following the rise in bullying incidents in primary and secondary schools across the country.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Education Dr Maruf Alausa shared his deep concern regarding the increasing occurrences of bullying, violence, and other negative behaviours in secondary schools, stressing their harmful effects on student’s academic performance, mental health, and moral values.
Alausa pointed out the serious repercussions of bullying and violence, such as declining academic performance, mental health issues, increased dropout rates, and a deterioration of moral values.
The minister, however, revealed that the government is working to end bullying using a dedicated platform.
He said, “ We are partnering with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to curb cultism and other criminal activities in schools. A dedicated helpline and online platform will be established to allow students and parents to report cases of bullying and violence anonymously.”
The minister also encouraged students to say no to bullying, violence, and cultism, and to report any incidents to trusted adults.
Recent reports of bullying incidents in various government and private schools have trailed the internet in the past months: including a Student of ‘Beautiful Beginning Academy’ in Abuja, identified as Imtiyas, who was chained and bullied by some SS3 students in their hostel and the tragic case of Sylvester Oromoni, a student who lost his life due to bullying at a private school in Lagos.
