The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Oyo State, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, has urged parents to instill discipline and moral values in their children and wards to curb cases of bullying in schools.
Akinyemiju said this on Monday in Ibadan as schools resumed in the state and against the background of the recent incident of alleged bullying resulting in the death of a student of a college in Lekki, Lagos.
The clergy also advised parents to have candid talks with their children, most especially the ones in boarding schools, to carefully select their friends and watch the company they keep to avoid trouble.
Akinyemiju said further that in view of the incidents of bullying in schools, parents should also consider equipping their children with self defence skills in order to ward off attacks.
“Government on its part and in collaboration with the various school authorities should review the security arrangements in the schools based on current trends.
“Government should also ensure that all schools have their perimeter fence in place and adequately monitored. May the almighty God keep protecting our children in Jesus name.’’
Also, Pastor Vincent Ajiboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Jesus Assembly, Ibadan, enjoined parents to monitor their wards both at home and at school.
He also advised parents to discipline the children when necessary and watch the type of friends they keep.
“The type of schools the children are enrolled in is equally important; it can determine the quality of education given to them and the impact it will have in their future achievements.
“Parenting is deeply spiritual, you don’t just joke about it, if not you will be surprised that in spite all your efforts as a parent, that things can still turn bad.
“Parents should spiritually secure the environment (school) that their children will be going to even before releasing them, whether boarding or day.
“Some of us go around blaming schools for everything that go wrong in our children’s lives, yet we leave the sensitive part of our parenting while chasing shadows.
“Amid all the bullying and all manner of things happening in schools, `staff of authority’ has a way of being a thick spiritual covering around our kids,” he said.
Ajiboye also enjoined parents not to joke with the destiny of their children because the devil doesn’t joke with destinies, especially the great ones.
“Wake up at night and put on the incense of prayer that will invoke the finger of God. You have work to do also as a parent, which is beyond giving them provision, shelter, and comfort.
“It’s a big error for you to send your child to school and in the end demons in human form will oppress and destroy what you have labored for years to build, God forbid.
“So take your time, pray, fast, and release them spiritually before you release them physically.
“Recreate those things you don’t like in them through prayers, you are gods as Bible called us, you have the power to turn things around if only you understand your spiritual authority as a parent,” he said.
Ajiboye further called on school owners not to be interested only in the financial gains, but to build good citizens for tomorrow and maintain good names.
“Today, moral discipline is fast disappearing in schools and parents are not helping the matter too.
“Thorough scriptural teaching of the word of God is fast disappearing too, when you fail to teach children the word of God, they fall into the hand of bad boys and gangs in school.
“When you fail to enforce godly teaching, children from bad home will have their way in the lives of the other innocent children,’’ the cleric said. (NAN)
