In a shocking incident in Kaduna State, the Schools’ Quality Assurance Authority has taken decisive action by sealing Al-Azhar Academy in Zaria, following the tragic death of a Junior Secondary School student, Marwan Sambo.
The 19-year-old was allegedly subjected to severe corporal punishment for absenteeism, shedding light on the prevalent use of corporal punishment in Nigerian schools.
The Director-General of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, Dr. Usman Abubakar, disclosed that an investigation into the case had been initiated. Pending the outcome, the authority decided to close down Al-Azhar Academy, emphasising its commitment to the safety and well-being of students.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), corporal punishment is a discipline method in which a supervising adult deliberately inflicts pain upon a child in response to a child’s unacceptable behavior and/or inappropriate language. It says the immediate aims of such punishment are usually to halt the offense, prevent its recurrence and set an example for others.
The purported long-term goal is to change the child’s behavior and to make it more consistent with the adult’s expectations. In corporal punishment, the adult usually hits various parts of the child’s body with a hand, or with canes, paddles, yardsticks, belts, or other objects expected to cause pain and fear.
Sambo reportedly endured over 100 strokes of the cane during an assembly, where he was publicly reprimanded for absenteeism. The punishment escalated in the office, involving stripping and beating with sticks on his head, back, and body. The severity of the assault led to the tragic demise of the young student.
This incident reignites the debate on the appropriateness of corporal punishment in schools, contrary to the country’s National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools. Despite its prohibition in the National Policy on Education and the Child Rights Act, the practice persists, posing a threat to the psychological and physical well-being of students.
Child rights activists and education experts argue that corporal punishment tends to be counterproductive, fostering aggression, hindering intellectual achievements, and contributing to mental health problems among students.
“Corporal punishment signals to the child that a way to settle interpersonal conflicts is to use physical force and inflict pain. Such children may in turn resort to such behavior themselves. They may also fail to develop trusting, secure relationships with adults and fail to evolve the necessary skills to settle disputes or wield authority in less violent ways. Supervising adults who will-fully humiliate children and punish by force and pain are often causing more harm than they prevent,” the AACAP said.
Addressing the issue, one expert stated that, “Our society is going crazy today because nobody wants to take the bull by the horn and punish misbehaving children.”
Child development experts advise that institutions entrusted with the responsibility of keeping children safe and promoting understanding, peace, and conflict resolution should explore alternative disciplinary methods. Calling children and understanding their actions before taking any action can be a more constructive approach.
UNICEF’s Chief of Education, Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan, emphasised the adverse effects of physical punishment on children, linking it to changes in brain structure and function, stress reactivity, and chronic health issues.
As Nigeria grapples with the tragic consequences of corporal punishment, there is a growing call for a paradigm shift in disciplinary methods, emphasising dialogue, positive reinforcement, and psychological support.
The tragedy of Marwan Sambo serves as a stark reminder that it is time to reassess the role of corporal punishment in shaping the future of the nation’s youths.
