In response to the rising cases of bullying in primary and secondary schools, the Federal Ministry of Education has announced plans to establish an anonymous whistleblowing platform to report bullying incidents.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, disclosed this initiative during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, expressing deep concern over the detrimental effects of bullying on students’ academic performance, mental health, and moral values.

Alausa noted the tragic consequences of bullying, citing recent incidents, including the death of Sylvester Oromoni, a student of a Lagos-based private school, and the suspension of 13 students from Federal Government College, Enugu, for bullying a peer.

National Campaign and Security Partnerships

The ministry has rolled out a National Campaign Against School Violence to educate students, teachers, and parents about the dangers of bullying. Additionally, the government is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to tackle cultism and criminal activities in schools.

The minister explained, “We are establishing a helpline and online platform to enable students and parents to report bullying and violence anonymously.”

Call to Action

Alausa called on parents, teachers, and school authorities to work together to create a safe learning environment. He urged parents to monitor their children’s behavior and mental health, while emphasizing the need for swift action when cases of bullying are reported.

Students were encouraged to reject bullying and report incidents to trusted adults, while the media was tasked with amplifying awareness about the issue and promoting moral education.