The Ministry of Education has announced that students found guilty of physical assault resulting in bodily harm will face indefinite suspension from Unity Colleges.
This directive, aimed at addressing the rising cases of student violence, was communicated in a memo signed by the Permanent Secretary, Nasir Gwarzo, obtained in Abuja.
The ministry expressed concern over the growing trend of physical assaults among students, describing the acts as alarming.
In response, it has adopted a firm stance to curb such behavior, emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy for violence in schools.
On November 7, 2024, the Federal Government imposed a six-week suspension on 13 Senior Secondary School 1 students of Federal Government College, Enugu.
These students were allegedly involved in a bullying incident that gained widespread attention after a disturbing video of the assault was shared on social media.
The suspension, ordered by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, aims to facilitate a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
This move comes amid increasing reports of bullying in both private and government schools across the country.
To combat the escalating issue of student violence, the ministry has introduced stricter disciplinary measures.
A statement in the memo read, “The attention of the ministry has been drawn to the cruel and inhuman acts of physical assault that inflict bodily injury on other students by fellow students or groups of students.
“In addition to the punishments in the ministry’s approved uniform guidelines for offences and punishments, the ministry has directed that henceforth, any student or group of students found culpable of physical assault leading to bodily injury on another student or group of students will be suspended indefinitely from the college.
“Ensure that you comply strictly with the content of this circular and inform the SBMC members and parents accordingly.”
The ministry further instructed college administrators to enforce the new directive rigorously and ensure that Student-Based Management Committee members and parents are duly informed.
