Commissioner Rebukes Catholic Priest Over Corporal Punishment Of Students
The Imo State Commissioner for Education, Professor Bernard Thompson Ikegwuoha, has criticized a Reverend Father for administering corporal punishment to students who reportedly arrived late to school.
In a viral video, the Commissioner is observed questioning the priest for instructing the students to kneel as a form of punishment.
He emphasized that corporal punishment has been abolished in schools throughout Imo State.
The Commissioner asserted that such disciplinary actions are no longer permissible under the state’s educational policy.
Professor Ikegwuoha contended that the students should not have been subjected to this punishment and expressed his dissatisfaction with the school’s management of the situation.
He subsequently instructed the school authorities to close the school for the day, noting that the date was a public holiday.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media. While some Nigerians commended the Commissioner for enforcing policies designed to protect students from severe disciplinary practices, others questioned whether closing the entire school was necessary or an proportionate response to the incident.
The video continues to elicit reactions as discussions grow regarding appropriate disciplinary methods in schools and the boundaries of administrative intervention.
