The recent incident involving a teacher at Christ-Mitots School in Ikorodu, Lagos, who was caught on video slapping a three-year-old pupil, has left many people outraged. Personally, I could not bring myself to finish watching the video—it was just too painful to see. While it is commendable that the teacher in question has been arrested, more action needs to be executed. Much more needs to be done to address the root causes of such incidents and prevent them from occurring in the future.
Schools are not merely places where children gather to learn academic subjects. They are sweet havens of growth, safety, and development. Unfortunately, some school owners and administrators have failed to understand this, reducing the institution of schooling to a profit-making venture. When such a narrow focus prevails, incidents of abuse, negligence, and even loss of life become all too common.
Running a school is far more than assembling children in classrooms, employing teachers, and collecting fees. It is a sacred trust that demands great care and attention. Parents entrust their children—often their most precious treasure—to schools with the expectation that they will be safe, nurtured, and guided toward becoming responsible adults.
This trust is often violated, not just by individual acts of negligence or cruelty, but by systemic failures. Many schools do not prioritize training or disciplining their staff, leaving employees ill-equipped to handle the challenges of working with children. When teachers or other staff lack the proper training and values, incidents like the one in Ikorodu are almost inevitable.
From my experience working with schools through my consulting firm, I have found that one of the most overlooked areas is staff training. While many school owners focus on infrastructure and curriculum, they often neglect to invest in the people who interact with children daily.
In my upcoming training session with the staff of a school preparing for resumption, one of the crucial areas we will discuss is the responsibility that every staff member has toward the children under their care. This includes not just teachers but also non-teaching staff like gatekeepers and cleaners. Every employee in a school environment plays a role in creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for learning. Training sessions like these help staff members understand that their role goes beyond the mechanics of teaching. They learn how to handle children with patience, empathy, and professionalism—qualities that are essential in education.
The case of the abusive teacher in Lagos raises deeper questions about how schools operate. Are staff adequately vetted before being hired? Are they trained not just in teaching methods but also in child psychology and behavior management? Is there a system in place for monitoring and addressing staff misconduct?
Many schools lack these structures, and the consequences are evident. Teachers who are overburdened, poorly trained, or unfit for the role often resort to harmful practices, creating environments where children are not only neglected but actively harmed.
To create schools that are safe and nurturing, school owners must take deliberate actions such as: investing in regular training, setting clear standards/codes of conduct for staff and enforcing them consistently, creating monitoring systems to identify and address problems early, maintaining open lines of communication with parents, encouraging them to report concerns and participate in school activities, and promoting accountability for all staff where they are held accountable for their actions, with a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.
The sad truth is that many schools wait until they are caught up in scandals before they take action. This reactive approach only deepens the damage—to children, families, and the school’s reputation. School owners must adopt a proactive mindset, addressing potential issues before they escalate.
As someone who works closely with schools, I have seen firsthand how a focus on staff training and accountability can transform an institution. When teachers and staff understand the weight of their responsibilities, they are better equipped to create environments where children thrive.
Ultimately, ensuring the safety and well-being of children in schools is a shared responsibility. Parents, school owners, teachers, and even non-teaching staff must work together to create systems that esteem child care and development.
The case In Ikorodu is a reminder of what can go wrong when this responsibility is neglected. Let it also be a propeller for change. As a society, we owe it to our children to ensure that schools are not just places of learning but domains of care and growth.
As we think about this heartbreaking incident, one question should echo deeply in our hearts: What kind of legacy are we building in our schools? Are we creating spaces where children are nurtured and valued, or are we unknowingly turning them into places of harm and fear?
Every child enrolled in a school represents hope, dreams, and the future. But when abuse or negligence takes place, it does more than just scar the child—it betrays the trust of families and damages society itself. If we continue to turn a blind eye, waiting until tragedies force us to act, we fail the very essence of what education should be.
The responsibility is ours—yours, mine, and everyone in the education sector. The question is: Will we rise to it, or will we allow another child’s pain to remind us of what we should have already done?
*Ejinkeonye-Christian, a certified life coach and business educator, is the CEO, Phebeon Consulting and Media Solutions Ltd, Nsukka, Enugu State. She can be reached at ceo@phebeon.com.ng.
