Yesterday, the video of a smart little girl bitterly expressing her anger after the management of her school sent her home over her parents inability to promptly pay her school fees, surfaced online.
While many people applauded the girl for her boldness and wittiness in expressing herself as well as her sheer display of determination to get educated, OAP Toke Makinwa, expressed disgust and anger at the manner in which most school authorities chose to humiliate and shame children over their parents inability to pay their fees. Posting via her IG
I am so sick to my stomach watching this. No child should be put under pressure, no child should be humiliated and made to suffer for wanting a better life. I’ve often wondered why flogging students who can’t pay or chasing them back home or in some cases publishing their names or calling them out on assembly ground is necessary, what point are you trying to prove? Embarrass their parents? Damage their self esteem, make them a laughing stock amongst their peers??? Of what use is this act exactly? Oh you flog or send them home so their parents can feel bad and embarrassed till they find the money right?
What is the child’s offense? Do they have a source of livelihood? Why do they have to suffer? Did they ask to be born?? It has been happening from time in memorial and I think it’s time we spoke against it. Why dehumanize them? Why embarrass them? Why flog them when they clearly can’t work to afford the school fees? Why??! I understand schools need money, I understand that some of these schools are not government owned and need funding to stay open but this is a shame, we must do something about it.
What happened to dialogue with the parents? What happened to working out a payment plan???? This young princess is the leader of tomorrow and her bravery and enthusiasm broke me, that should encourage them to nurture her and not break her down. Even if we find her confidence funny, her self esteem is being bruised by the school authorities who believe they have to flog her cos her parents can’t pay them to teach her. Sad ? ???
Pls let’s join hands in saving the situation, pls anyone who can connect with her family or any school interested in giving her a scholarship, let’s stop this barbaric act it’s disgusting”.