The Ministry of Education has warned that any student found guilty of physical assault leading to bodily injury will be suspended indefinitely from Unity Colleges.
A memo by the Permanent Secretary, Nasir Gwarzo, which was obtained by newsmen in Abuja, said the ministry’s attention was drawn to the alarming rise in cruel acts of physical assault among students.
In response, the ministry resolved to take a tough stance on the issue, stressing that such behaviour would no longer be tolerated.
On 7 November 2024, the Federal Government ordered the immediate suspension for six weeks of 13 students allegedly involved in the bullying of their fellow students in Senior Secondary School 1 at the Federal Government College, Enugu.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, ordered the suspension to pave the way for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The directive followed the circulation of a disturbing video on social media platforms, where a group of students were seen assaulting a student.
The development came as reports of bullying in private and government colleges intensified in the country.
In a bid to curb the growing menace of student-on-student violence, the ministry said it deemed it necessary to introduce more severe penalties to address the escalating problem of student violence.
“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.
“College administrators have been instructed to strictly comply with the new directive and to inform Student-Based Management Committee members and parents accordingly”, the statement read.
