By Ado Oyeyemi
The management of Kwara State Polytechnic has suspended a lecturer seen in a viral video physically assaulting candidates during an examination exercise, describing the conduct as unacceptable and inconsistent with the institution’s values.
The decision followed widespread condemnation that trailed the circulation of the video on social media, with many Nigerians criticising the use of corporal punishment in an academic environment.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Halimat Garba, the Polytechnic clarified that the individuals captured in the footage were not registered students of the institution but candidates participating in the Interim Joint Matriculation Board examination.
According to the statement, the candidates allegedly arrived late for an ongoing examination when the incident occurred.
The institution noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the lecturer’s actions but stressed that violence and physical punishment have no place in its disciplinary system.
The statement read in part, “While the intention behind the action is yet to be established, the method adopted was entirely inappropriate.
The Polytechnic firmly opposes all forms of violence and physical punishment as disciplinary measures.”
The management emphasised that education should be driven by respect, understanding and positive guidance, adding that discipline can be enforced through more humane and constructive approaches.
Consequently, the lecturer was placed on immediate suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Polytechnic also acknowledged the concerns raised by parents, students and members of the public over the incident, assuring stakeholders that the matter was receiving urgent attention.
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Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining high ethical standards, the institution pledged to implement necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents and preserve the integrity for which it is known.
