Stakeholders in the education sector have called for collaboration between school management and parent-teacher associations (PTAs) to address the menace of bullying in schools.

The stakeholders made this call in separate interviews in Abuja on Monday.

They were reacting to reports of bullying in secondary schools nationwide, particularly a recent incident at the Federal Government College, Enugu.

Olubukola Dosunmu, former president of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), FCT Chapter, emphasised the need for schools to develop stringent measures to address bullying.

“Bullying is a social problem; it’s something that goes beyond the schools. I think schools and parent associations should work together to adopt more stringent measures that will deter students from doing it.

“A lot of things start from home, with the economic issues and challenges facing people in society, which weren’t as severe when things were better economically.

“What children do at home is what they do outside. They see violence between their parents; they witness verbal and physical abuse.
“The way children see parents treat them, treat each other, and treat others at home is how they behave in school,” she said.

Ms Dosunmu urged parents to take greater responsibility in raising morally upright children, noting that no school safeguarding policy would be effective if parents failed to play their role, as bullying habits often stem from the home.

She also called on religious bodies and social agencies to promote teachings of tolerance and patience to instil good character in children.

A psychologist, Chidiebere Nwankwo, noted the dangers of bullying, stating that victims often experience intellectual, emotional, physical, and academic challenges.

“Bullying can seriously affect the emotional, physical, and academic wellbeing of children who are bullied.

“Dealing with discipline issues related to bullying incidents can also consume a significant amount of administrators’ and educators’ time during a regular school day.

“If stringent measures are implemented, not only will learners benefit, but the school environment will also improve. An effective bullying prevention programme can significantly curtail these issues,” she said.

Ms Nwankwo called on regulatory agencies to devise comprehensive strategies to eradicate bullying in all educational institutions across the country.

A parent, Segun Aloba, criticised schools for often shielding perpetrators of bullying, which he said leads to repeated incidents.

“Schools often cover up bullying, and that’s why we’re not seeing progress. They hide these issues to retain students because they’re afraid of losing enrolments,” he said.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, expressed strong disapproval after the emergence of a distressing video showing bullying at one of the unity colleges.

“Bullying, in any form, is a violation of the fundamental rights and dignity of young learners and must be stopped,” the minister said.

Following the incident, Mr Alausa ordered the suspension of the students involved as a deterrent to others. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment in federal schools.

He stated that the ministry had taken immediate measures, including enhanced security with law enforcement and a review of school safety protocols, to address the concerns raised by the incident.

(NAN)