Education: Private School to pay N100m Damages for neglegence Over Student’s Death
Education: Private School to pay N100m Damages for neglegence Over Student’s Death.
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A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja on Tuesday has awarded the sum of N100m in general damages against a Private School, Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence of duty of care which led to the death of a student.
The father of the now late 9 year old daughter, Mr Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim had sued the school for negligence that resulted in the death of his daughter, Kamzie.
The content of the suit marked CV/1738/18, has it that Ikpeatusim alleged the school’s failure to provide adequate medical attention after Kamzie who fell ill shortly after her admission and resumption in the school led to her untimely death.
Kamzie, who was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017 became severely ill by October 2 and died a few days later.
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The judge, Justice Sylvanus Oriji, while delivering judgment in the suit brought before the court after awarding the N100m cost, ordered a 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment.
He also awarded an additional N300,000 as the cost of the suit.
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Justice Oriji while pronouncing the decision of the court, held that the evidence presented showed the school and its agents acted negligently by failing to attend promptly and adequately to Kamzie’s medical needs.
“The claimant established his allegations of negligence against the school.
“There is no amount of money that can bring back the child to life,” he stated.
Justice Oriji however acknowledged the fact that one significant outcome of the case was the improvement of the school’s sickbay following the incident.
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He noted that the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily was a commendable development.
While the claimant had asked the court to order the school to name one of its structures in Kamzie’s name in her honour, Justice Oriji noted that the improvement in the school’s sickbay was sufficient enough to know the school is making amends from its mistake.
“The court thinks that the improvement in the sickbay, ensuring doctors are available twice daily, is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by her family.
“The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through these improvements.”
Due to challenges facing Private Schools recently ranging from incidents that leads to hospitalization or even death of students, which include school building collapse and other unwanted incidents, experts have been speaking on need for caution as the school is managed daily.
Some have advised that training be intensified and standard be ensured in schools to avoid more hazards that can lead to endangering the lives of learners which can also lead to litigations or distraction from providing the basic needed qualitative teaching and service delivery .