18/06/2025
PRESS STATEMENT
By: The Executive Director,
Media For Humanitarian Development Initiative (MHDI)
June 18, 2025
RISING ASSAULT ON TEACHERS BY PARENTS: A CALL FOR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND URGENT ACTION
It is with great concern and deep disappointment that the Media For Humanitarian Development Initiative (MHDI) addresses the growing and distressing trend of physical and psychological assault on teachers—especially in private schools—by parents and guardians of learners. This disturbing pattern not only endangers the lives and morale of educators but threatens the very fabric of moral development and educational discipline in our society.
Two recent incidents painfully highlight the gravity of this crisis. Just last month in Akure, Ondo State, the Vice Principal of a reputable secondary school was brutally assaulted by hired thugs reportedly sent by a parent whose child was allegedly caught engaging in exam malpractice. This same parent has continued to issue threats to the teacher ahead of the forthcoming NECO examinations-allegedly, warning him not to “interfere” should his child attempt to cheat again. The sheer audacity of this parent is not only criminal but an affront to every value of decency, discipline, and accountability.
Only a week ago in Abuja, a teacher who caught a male student luring and kissing his male classmate in a school corridor responded by slapping the boy. Rather than dialogue or investigation, the parents of the erring child allegedly chose to get the teacher arrested and detained, ignoring the immorality of their son's behavior. Such reactions from parents not only embolden misconduct among students but actively undermine the authority of teachers who are employed to guide and nurture our children.
MHDI finds it deeply troubling that some private school proprietors silently tolerate these attacks on their staff out of fear of losing wealthy or influential clients. The result is a toxic learning environment where some students are made "sacred cows," immune to correction, and teachers are left vulnerable, demoralized, and unsupported. We must state clearly: a school where teachers cannot safely enforce discipline is not an institution of learning; it is a disaster waiting to happen.
We therefore issue this clarion call:
To Private School Proprietors:
We urge you to create and enforce institutional policies that guarantee the protection and dignity of your teachers. Every private school should have a clearly documented code of conduct for both staff and parents, which should be signed at the point of enrollment. There should be teacher protection policies, legal backing where necessary, and collaboration with local law enforcement to prosecute cases of assault or intimidation. Schools must not sacrifice the integrity of education on the altar of financial gain.
To Parents and Guardians:
Parenting is a sacred duty. It does not stop at providing school fees or shielding your child from consequences. It involves raising children who are morally upright, respectful, and self-disciplined. If a child cannot be corrected without you taking offense or threatening violence, then such a parent has failed in their responsibility. Back in the day, teachers were partners in parenting. Today, some parents have become aggressors toward those who dedicate their lives to shaping their children. We must reverse this trend. A misbehaving child is not a "cute rebel"—they are a danger to the society we all live in.
To Teachers:
While we defend your right to discipline, we must also caution against the abuse of that responsibility. Under no circumstances should a teacher use correction as a license for torture or cruelty. Corporal punishment must never cross the line into physical or emotional harm. Every teacher must discipline the same way they would correct their own biological child—with firmness, fairness, and compassion. If you lack the patience or emotional control required to teach minors, then you may need to reconsider your calling.
To the Federal Ministry of Education:
As the regulator of the education sector, MHDI calls on you to urgently review and reinforce guidelines that protect educators in private and public schools. Introduce clear disciplinary procedures for erring parents who assault teachers. Consider mandatory parent-teacher orientation programs as part of school registration and re-accreditation processes. Partner with civil society organizations, like ours, to monitor and respond swiftly to emerging threats in schools.
We must all recognize that teachers are nation builders. The lawyer once had a teacher. So did the doctor, the engineer, the politician, and every other professional. When a teacher is intimidated, assaulted, or silenced, it is not just the teacher that suffers—it is the future of the nation that is placed at risk.
Sadly, our society is increasingly raising a generation of uncultured children, born to half-prepared parents who themselves lack home training. This decay in values must be halted. It is time for all stakeholders—proprietors, parents, educators, CSOs, and government authorities—to stand up for teachers, reinforce discipline, and jointly secure the future of education in Nigeria.
Let us build a system where every child learns not just arithmetic and grammar, but the values of respect, responsibility, and civility. Let us ensure that no teacher has to choose between upholding discipline and preserving their safety.
A nation that dishonors its teachers does not deserve a future.
Signed,
Paulgold Olalekan Joseph
Executive Director
Media For Humanitarian Development Initiative (MHDI)
Abuja, Nigeria
