“Sir, I know I will never make it in life. My teacher already told me.” Those words came from a teenage boy after class. His eyes were steady, but his voice was empty. The teacher had not beaten him or suspended him. He had only spoken, but his words killed the boy’s dream. The boy still came to school every day. However, in his heart, he believed he had already failed.
In Nigeria’s struggling schools, where broken chairs, unpaid salaries, and crowded classrooms are standard, there is another problem people do not talk about enough — emotional abuse from teachers. This abuse leaves no bruises, but it can hurt children more deeply than poverty. Many Nigerian children hear words like, “You are a blockhead, sit down!” or “With this dull brain, forget university.” These insults are not rare. They happen in both rich private schools in Lagos and small village schools in Katsina. The people meant to guide children are sometimes the ones shaming them.
Long ago, teachers in Nigeria were highly respected. Being called “Teacher” brought honour. Nevertheless, now, some teachers misuse the power of their words. Professor Droy Igbokwe from the University of Nigeria says children build their self-image from what they hear. If a teacher insults them, it can cause low motivation, sadness, and even depression for years.
The Nigerian Union of Teachers has admitted that a few bad teachers harm the profession’s good name. Nevertheless, there are still no strong rules to stop emotional abuse. There is no clear way for students to report it, and no set punishment for offenders.
This is not to say teachers have it easy. Many work without pay and with no materials. They show great courage by still coming to class. However, being tired or underpaid is not an excuse to harm children. Carrying personal frustrations into the classroom is not discipline — it is unfair. As education advocate Yusuf Olatunji says, teachers are “emotional architects.” They should be building children, not breaking them.
The problem is bigger than individuals. Many teachers were also raised with harsh words and now repeat the cycle without realising it. Sadly, their training rarely covers emotional intelligence or important courses like child psychology. There are no mental health services for teachers who are stressed or depressed. In Nigerian culture, shaming is often seen as normal, so students may not even know they are being mistreated.
The hidden victims are the students who are physically in school but mentally absent. They no longer try because they fear embarrassment. School now feels like a place where they are constantly judged. Sometimes, just one harsh comment from a teacher can make them believe they are not good enough. Efforts must be made to fix this problem. Nigeria needs teacher training that also teaches kindness and emotional understanding, not just classroom subjects. Schools must have clear rules against verbal abuse, and students should have safe ways to report it. Teachers also need mental health support.
Because if words can crush a child’s dream, they can also bring it back to life. A teacher can say, “I believe in you,” “You can try again,” or “You matter.” These words can change everything. When the chalk is used to hurt, the future bleeds. When it is used with care, the future can heal.
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