EDITORIAL: ANALYZING THE SCHOOL DEBATE IN NIGER
The practice of debate among pupils and students is an ancient custom, primarily aimed at cultivating vital skills such as critical thinking, reasoning, and public speaking. Debates serve to enable students to articulate their thoughts coherently, influencing others and building confidence. It is a forum where effective communication skills are nurtured, all governed by well-defined rules.
Recently, a viral video captured a debate session at a Local Education Authority (LEA) school in Niger State. In this instance, a student from Kasim Primary School in Agaie Local Government Area initiated the topic, “Voting Should Be Mandatory,” but quickly veered off, uttering derogatory comments about the political class, including the president and lawmakers. This behavior contradicts the established rules for debates.
Students are often coached on debate content, and the Agaie incident appears to be a case where a pupil struggled to express ideas imparted by teachers. The applause from peers, unaware of the argument’s substance, further disconnected the student’s utterances from the debate topic.
We strongly condemn the involvement of both students and teachers in this incident. Teachers hold a significant role in shaping young minds and must not exploit or radicalize students to promote personal views, especially on political matters. Such exploitation of pupils, who are below voting age, is unacceptable.
Regrettably, the teachers in Agaie appear to lack a full understanding of their responsibilities and social expectations. There is a need for awareness and training to prevent reoccurrences. Even if the pupil was influenced outside the school, perhaps by parents or other influential individuals, teachers must counteract hateful ideologies and ensure the child’s mind is free from such biases.
Debates should foster an appreciation for diverse perspectives and discourage generalizations. The education system must promote respect towards elders and peers, discouraging the use of vulgar language in argumentation.
From the News Source: DailyTrust
