Analysis of the circle of suffering corporal punishment in schools and residential houses in Nigeria: a social work perspective

Abstract

The Circle of Suffering is a research report of narratives that depicted harrowing experiences of brutality of young children in respective houses and schools in Nigeria. The literature review was on the negative aspect of corporal punishment within the context of the circle of suffering.
The methodology was qualitative based on the documentary method which was based on secondary sources such as newspapers, journal articles and text books.
The theoretical perspective was on Albert Bandura’s theory of social learning.

Findings: During the developmental phase of childhood, minors endured severe corporal punishments, starvation, and a life
of servitude that was harrowing. For those who attended respective primary and secondary schools, teachers added to their suffering by severely flogging them for infractions. The consequences of systematic abuses and violence are predicted to have negative outcomes for their future social interaction and psychological well-being.
Conclusion: Given there are other urgent priorities of insecurity, unemployment violent crimes, and inability to implement public policies of all tiers of government, corporal punishments will continue on a greater scale.
Recommendations: Policymakers should enact strong laws that can be enforced to outlaw corporal punishments. A sensitization of the public to this menace of brutality must be intensified in urban and
rural areas. Child Rights Act must be enforced across Nigeria. The police and criminal justice system must be ready to prosecute violators so as to serve as a deterrent to future offenders.