A youth corps member serving in a school in Adamawa recently shared a story about disciplining a student who repeatedly shouted "Gotel" when asked a simple math question.
The corps member, initially unaware of the meaning, later discovered that "Gotel" means "one" in the Fulani language.
In a post shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the corps member recounted his experience, expressing regret for his actions and vowing to apologize to the student.
He explained that he had been posted to Adamawa without knowing how to speak Fulani, and when teaching students who didn't understand English, he asked one of them, "What's 3 minus 2?"
The student responded by shouting, "Gotel... Gotel!" The corps member, misunderstanding the response, disciplined the student, thinking it was an inappropriate answer.
In his post, he wrote:
"Why did NYSC post me to Adamawa when I don't even know how to speak Fulani? These students don't understand English either. I asked one boy, 'What's 3 minus 2?' and he just kept shouting 'Gotel... Gotel!' I flogged him today."
Sharing an update, he added:
"I was told the meaning of 'Gotel' a few minutes after I posted this. Tomorrow, I will have to apologize and give him some biscuits."
As the post gained attention, many concerned individuals flocked to the comment section to share their thoughts.
See some reactions below:
@UTDAhmard: "Why dem go carry corper go primary school.."
@_Gidado_Ai: "Gotel means 1 now 😂😆😆You don bully our brother."
@abbakarrrh: "You should apologize to am."
@Abkr_m_yahya: "He's correct 😭You should have ask him to write what he means."
@SOTesleem: "Teach them. That's why you are there. Those kids will thank you for the rest of their lives."
@FarukUs05104731: "What if he tell his Fada?😹😹..Una don finished be that."
@NudgeTM: "Flogging a child is potentially child abuse."
@amannepen: "Must we use English to teach? The moment we adopt using our native language to explain certain topics, you would see how easy it is for the students to understand."
@AngyaLois: "Not me asking my student to identify some fruits on a picture chat. Gurl touched pineapple and said Auntee abarbar. God abeg."
@hanwins2008: "You will have to learn Fulfude to be able to teach them, same thing happened to me years ago when I served in the North, I had to learn emergency Hausa and started teaching them in Hausa, it worked."
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