A shocking incident on Children’s Day at Notre Dame Girls Academy (NDGA), Kuje, has sparked outrage among parents after the principal reportedly locked up female students in an uncompleted building for making noise.
Notre Dame Girls Academy, an all-girls secondary school in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria, has a reported population of about 150 students and is managed by the Notre Dame Sisters, known for their high moral and academic standards.
However, recent events suggest a darker side to the institution’s disciplinary methods.
A parent of the college, who spoke to our Correspondent on the condition of anonymity, revealed that this was not an isolated incident. “It was not the first time children of the popular college would be subjected to such ill treatment,” the parent stated, adding that “students are mercilessly flogged at any little provocation by the principal herself and other staff as well.”
Another disturbing disciplinary method highlighted by sources is the denial of food to students for perceived misconduct. This practice, reportedly a norm at NDGA, has allegedly led to health conditions among students and is described as needing to be quickly addressed by the regulating authorities.
Efforts to engage the principal regarding these alleged maltreatments have reportedly been met with resistance. “All efforts to engage the principal to address several maltreatments endured by the students have fallen on deaf ears as the principal is ready to take it out with anyone that dares to challenge her authority,” a source claimed.
Expressing concern that “this lackadaisical attitude is affecting the children mentally, socially and academically.” Our source revealed on the alleged ill-treatment, stating, “the children are not well fed. They are subjected to all kinds of ill treatments like merciless, careless, and unnecessary flogging of the students.
“The principal manipulates and gathers information from the children as confessions which she in turn uses against them. Of course, it is not supposed to be so because when such an act becomes a norm then mistrust and dishonesty sets in thereby causing a disconnect between the led and the innocent children.
“The principal is known for constantly laying curses on the children during prayers in order to instill fears and confusion in their minds. This might lead a child to depression especially for reasons that the children are barred from having phone conversations with their loved ones except for very urgent or special occasions.”
The source further detailed other alleged harsh punishments: “Another worrisome issue most times is the fact that the students are made to undergo harsh punishments like making them kneel on the coal tar under the sun within the school premises. The defaulting students are made to miss classes for days as part of punishment and atimes, they are left to serve punishment late into the night till even wee hours thereby leaving the children devastated.”
The incident on Children’s Day, May 27, 2025, specifically involving Junior Secondary School Two (JSS 2) students, has brought these concerns to a head. “Asking children of between 10-16 years to go without meals as a means of correction for wrongdoing is unacceptable but unfortunately it is a norm in NDGA. Poor feeding is a major issue,” the source reiterated.
“Precisely on the 27th of May, 2025 which was earmarked as visiting day as it was publicised, to mark the Children’s Day. However, things took a different turn as JSS2 students were never part of the celebration. The school principal, in her usual manner, locked up students of Junior Secondary School Two (JSS 2) in an uncompleted building around the school hostel and did not allow them to participate in the activities of the day just for making noise. She also accused them of vandalising her car which was later discovered to be mere exaggeration. This infuriated the parents of the students and some confronted her leading to an altercation.”
The alleged compromise of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) was also raised as a significant concern.
“It is sad that the Parents Teachers Association that is supposed to regulate to a large extent the ills and inhuman treatment happening in the school has been compromised. This has given the school management more powers to operate at will to the detriment of the children under their care,” the source concluded.
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