Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (Kwara Poly), has suspended a lecturer seen in a viral video caning candidates of the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) programme during an examination exercise on the institution’s premises.
The suspension followed public outrage after the video surfaced on social media on Monday, showing the lecturer flogging candidates who were kneeling with their hands raised and taking turns to receive strokes of the cane on their palms.
The footage triggered widespread criticism from Nigerians, many of whom condemned the use of corporal punishment in a tertiary institution and demanded disciplinary action against the lecturer.
President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, condemned the incident, insisting that students should not be subjected to physical punishment.
He wrote, “A lecturer in Kwara State Polytechnic asked IJMB students to kneel down, and he beat them up with a cane. Such an act is condemnable. Students are not animals and should never be treated as such. There are different ways to punish erring students, not beating them up.
Read Also:Gov AbdulRazaq suspends Kwara poly rector
“As much as students must never assault lecturers or act rudely to them, lecturers don’t also have the right to assault students. I hereby call on the Kwara State Polytechnic management to investigate this issue, and sanctions should be made where necessary.”
Responding to the controversy, the institution, through a statement issued on Monday by its Public Relations Officer, Halimat Garba, clarified that those captured in the video were IJMB candidates and not regular students of the polytechnic.
The statement read: “The attention of Kwara State Polytechnic Management has been drawn to a viral video circulating on social media in which a lecturer is seen physically reprimanding students.
“The Management wishes to clarify that the students depicted in the video are not Polytechnic students but rather IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board) candidates who arrived late for their ongoing examinations.”
Read Also:Kwara govt to spend N1.4bn for lawmakers’ luxury vehicles amid rising insecurity
The management stated that although the circumstances that led to the lecturer’s action were still being investigated, the method used was unacceptable and contrary to the institution’s values.
“While the intention for which the action was done is not yet known, we must emphasize that the approach taken was wholly inappropriate, as the Polytechnic stands firmly against any form of violence or physical punishment as a means of discipline,” the statement said.
The institution reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a learning environment built on mutual respect and positive engagement.
“We believe that education should be rooted in respect, understanding, and constructive guidance, and that there are far more effective and humane ways to instill important values in students,” the statement said.
The polytechnic further announced that the lecturer had been suspended from duty pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the incident.
“The Polytechnic Management therefore suspends the concerned lecturer from his duties pending the outcome of the findings on this matter.
“We appreciate the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding this incident and assure the public that the matter is being taken very seriously.
“In light of this incident, the Management wishes to express its sincere confidence to the public in the integrity and values for which Kwarapoly is known. We are determining the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future.”
Tribune
