A failed attempt
by a senior male student of the Science and Technical College Ingawa, Katsina
State, to rape his junior has created unease among parents and guardians.
An official inquiry, launched by the
school authority after the matter was reported by the victim, revealed the
depth of sexual abuse in the institution. So far, no fewer than 27
students were said to have been dismissed over homosexuality.
The accused senior student, Daily
Trust gathered, was summoned and questioned by the authority, and this led to
the uncovering of more names within and outside the school involved in same sex
relationship.
All those fingered were asked to
write a statement before their parents who were invited to the school before
they were purportedly expelled, it was further gathered.
From their written and oral
submissions, it was also discovered that the students have ‘clients’ in town
who they sneak out to meet at night.
Following the growing cases of
sodomy in the school, students began to write their parents to withdraw them.
The matter became public when the
member representing Kusada constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly,
Abubakar Yahaya, tabled the issue before his colleagues under matters of urgent
public attention.
The House immediately mandated its
committee on education, under Shehu Tafoki, to investigate the matter and
report back its findings and recommendations within one month.
After several postponements, the
report was finally scheduled for presentation. The assembly however went into
an executive session, a move that barred journalists, Islamic scholars and
other stakeholders from witnessing the presentation of the report.
At the end of their closed-door
deliberation, which was informed by the sensitive nature of the issue, some
recommendations were offered. This led to the expansion of the committee’s work
to other institutions, including the state-owned Hassan Usman Polytechnic,
after it was discovered that one of the culprits was said to be studying at the
institute.
According to the chairman of the
committee, Tafoki, three students were fingered as principal culprits with two
of them already expelled from the college while the third had gotten admission
into the polytechnic.
A source, who is a member of the
committee, said this was among some of the recommendations adopted at a close
door sitting of the House. A copy of a page of the report obtained in Katsina
showed that stern disciplinary action was recommended against any erring
student in accordance with the rules and regulations of the school.
Other recommendations include that a
sensitization committee should be set up not only at the college but all
boarding schools across the state to enlighten students on the moral, social
and health dangers of homosexuality and lesbianism.
When contacted, the executive
secretary of the state science and technical board, Lawal Bosa, under whose
purview the school operates, feigned ignorance of the matter and referred our
reporter to the state assembly which he said knew about the matter.
However, sources at the board
confided in our reporter that a committee which was also set up within to look
at the matter has recommended stiffer penalties like expulsion, transfers
amongst others. The board had also asked the committee to extend investigation
to other colleges. Most parents and stakeholders expressed concern over the
issue and called for stiff action on the issue.
Daily Trust reports that in spite of
laws criminalizing homosexuality and lesbianism, the acts continue to grow in
schools across the country to the extent that parents were forced to move their
children to other schools, one teacher said.
A human rights activist, Bashir
Ruwangodiya, said the matter is alarming, adding that the most unfortunate
thing was the way the number of people believed to be involved kept increasing
by the day.
He attributed the causes to general
moral decadence in the society, which involves failure on the part of some
parents in the proper upbringing of children and the lack of effective and
thorough monitoring of children.
“My worst fear was the alleged
involvement of highly placed people in the community. There is serious cause
for concern as these men initiate the perceived innocent school children into
the act,” he said.
He said government must intensify
efforts at monitoring boarding schools while teachers must be up and doing by
ensuring that hostels are checked regularly and more security personnel
employed in schools.
A parent, Idris Abdullahi, said
principals and teachers must be held responsible for whatever befalls a
student, adding that “a student is an entrusted entity to a teacher or
principal as such they should be liable for the successes or otherwise of such
student.”
He said the increase in same sex
relationships forced him to think twice about enrolling his children at a
boarding school, adding that every day one is hears about sinful activities at
both male and female boarding schools.
Another parent and chairman of Good
Governance and Accountability, Lawal Saidu, said the rampant acts of immorality
amongst teachers and students call for general reorientation.
He said teachers must be sincere,
upright and just in their dealings with students; relationship between them
must be professionally guided, adding that “taking advantage of their
weaknesses is unfortunate.”
The state chairman of Nigeria Union
of Teachers, Hassan Dayi, said though not officially communicated on the
matter, the union will keenly await the report of the House committee and
ensure that any teacher found wanting is punished.
Credit: clqqmagazine
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