BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 constituted a seven-member committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the documented and trending video of alleged bullying incident at the Lead British International School (LBIS), Abuja.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko, who announced the investigation committee, expressed serious concern over the alleged bullying that circulated in a video.
Tanko, who convened an urgent meeting in response to an alleged bullying incident at Lead British International School, emphasised the government’s steadfast stance against any form of harassment or intimidation within educational institutions in the country.
The Minister said that the committee’s mandate is to investigate the events as depicted in the videos and come up with expanded investigation to other schools, using Lead British International School as a case study, to address broader social vices.
He also underscored the importance of establishing stronger bonds between school authorities and students to facilitate immediate responses to similar incidents in the future, emphasizing the critical role of communication in resolving such issues.
While assuring the Nigerian populace of the government’s commitment to ensuring safety and protecting the rights of all students, the Minister stressed the seriousness of the Federal Ministry of Education in addressing and eradicating vices within the education sector.
Speaking in turn, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack said that the Federal Ministry of Education remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering safe and conducive learning environments for all Students across the Nation.
The Permanent Secretary suggested the need for the existence of an anonymous suggestion box at the School, where students can lodge their complaints discreetly.
Walson-Jack recommended fostering relationships between teachers and students towards enabling students to feel comfortable reporting directly to them.
Representatives of the Lead British International School, led by Mr. Abraham Ogunkanmbi, Head of School at LBIS Abuja, assured the Ministry that appropriate measures had been taken in response to the incidents, including disciplinary actions in accordance with school policies.
