A video circulating on social media has shown a secondary school student smoking openly in a classroom while other students engaged in disruptive and unusual activities, sparking concerns about discipline and supervision in Nigerian schools.
The clip, which began trending on TikTok and X on Tuesday, appears to have been recorded by one of the students in the class. In the footage, a student is seen seated at a desk with a cigarette, exhaling smoke as classmates around him laugh and record the act. Other students in the background are seen dancing, shouting, and moving around without any teacher present.
The location and name of the school have not been officially confirmed, and no education authority has claimed responsibility for the institution as of press time. The video has generated thousands of views and comments, with many Nigerians expressing shock and disappointment over what they described as a breakdown of classroom discipline.
“This is what happens when there’s no supervision. Where is the teacher?” one user commented. Another wrote, “Social media is making students act for clout, even inside class.”
Education experts say the incident highlights the growing influence of social media on student behavior and the need for stricter enforcement of school rules. Smoking on school premises is prohibited under the National Policy on Tobacco Control and most state school regulations. It also violates the child protection and discipline codes adopted by many state ministries of education.
The Federal Ministry of Education and state education boards have repeatedly warned that schools must ensure proper supervision and enforce codes of conduct for both students and staff. Under the Child Rights Act, schools are required to provide a safe environment free from substances and activities that could harm students’ health and development.
Some viewers have suggested the video may be staged for online engagement, a trend that has become common as students create skits and pranks for views. However, child protection advocates say even staged acts that normalize smoking and disorder in classrooms are harmful, as they can influence younger students.
Reacting to similar incidents in the past, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria has called on school administrators to strengthen monitoring systems, including the use of CCTV in common areas and random checks, while also engaging students in counseling and mentorship programs…See More
