Reactions erupt as Nigerian mother condemns teacher for unprofessional grading of daughter's homework

A concerned mother has sparked a heated debate among educators after condemning a teacher for the unprofessional marking and grading of her daughter’s homework.

The parent, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed her frustration over her 5-year-old son’s poor spelling performance reported in Primary 1. Despite her efforts to assist him at home, she found herself bewildered by the “bad” report, especially since his schoolbooks were still there, leaving her in the dark about the severity of the situation.

The mother’s comments ignited a lively discussion among teachers, with many sharing their thoughts on the developmental appropriateness of the child’s education.

Rachel Odichimma Nnadi remarked, “He’s doing well, but 5 years should be in nursery 3, not in Primary 1.”

Doris Chidinma Nzeogu agreed, stating, “The boy is doing well for his age, but the problem is not being in a class appropriate for his age.”

Philippa Okonji offered a different angle, emphasizing the role of phonics and teacher articulation in children’s spelling development.

“If a teacher says ‘moda’ instead of ‘mother,’ the children will write the word as they heard it. So let us not only focus on whether the child can spell correctly, but also look at what the child hears,” she explained.

Further, Mfon Ebebe pointed out a potential issue with pronunciation, citing an example where the child misspelled “shoe” as “shoo.”

Amidst the varied opinions, Enimien Oruebor encouraged the mother to meet with the teacher and understand the specific expectations.

“If you feel their expectations are unrealistic, discuss with them and the school head,” she advised, while Olabis Oga-Adebowale agreed, suggesting that parents engage directly with school authorities to clarify standards.