Dear School Owners: Why It’s Time to Scrap Class Positions in Nigeria

A boy in yellow T-shirt, holding up a sheet, smiling.
This article is for school owners in Nigeria.


Let’s talk about something we all know too well: those end-of-term reports that proudly announce 1st, 2nd, 3rd… and sometimes, 10th position.


Now, pause for a second.


We tell children, “Compete with yourself. Be a better version of YOU.”

Yet, we hand them a report that screams, “You’re 8th out of 10!”

That’s not growth. That’s pressure. And it’s hurting our children—more than we admit.



The Psychological Cost of Ranking

In a 2022 survey by UNICEF Nigeria, over 53% of children aged 6–11 reported that school-related stress came primarily from fear of “not being good enough” compared to their peers. Not because of their actual learning difficulties—but because of academic comparison.


Another study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that students in environments that rank academic performance are twice as likely to suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, and self-doubt, especially when they consistently perform at the bottom.



Let’s bring it home:

A child who “carries the class on his head” (in Nigerian parlance) starts to believe they’re not smart—regardless of effort or progress.

That’s emotional damage. And it doesn’t go away easily.



The Domino Effect: Blame, Shame, and School Hopping

Worried parents begin to panic:

"My child is always coming last. Is the school failing them?"


They shift the blame to teachers and sometimes even withdraw the child—not out of malice, but out of fear. And it’s no surprise: a 2021 NAPPS (National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools) report noted that over 38% of school withdrawals in primary schools are linked to poor academic performance.


Meanwhile, the child—wounded and confused—is left with the scars.

No emotional resuscitation. No mindset reset.

Just quiet shame.



The Case for Grades: A Simpler, Kinder System

What if we flipped the system?

At the end of the term, each child receives a grade based on personal performance—not compared against others.

Simple grading like:

🔶 A – Excellent

🔶 B – Good

🔶 C – Needs Support


With this, a child’s dignity remains intact.

And what’s more? Every child still gets feedback—but without the ranking.

Research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that when grading is used instead of ranking, student motivation and classroom engagement increases by 31%.


So why are we still clinging to a system that shames more than it shapes?



Why This Change Matters

For the Child: They stop seeing themselves as “less than.” Instead, they learn to focus on their effort and growth.


For the Parent: The conversation shifts from “How many people beat you?” to “How can I support you next term?”


For the School: You become known as a progressive, child-centred institution—one that values learning over labels.


☘️


It’s Time to Be Brave

We’ve done positions for decades. It’s familiar. But that doesn’t make it right.

It takes courage to break tradition. But it also takes courage to raise emotionally balanced, confident learners.


So here’s the challenge:

Let’s stop positioning children on a ladder. Let’s start nurturing them on a path.


They deserve it!





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Comments

  1. Cynthia OghenegarenJuly 29, 2025 at 10:49 AM

    This has always been my take on assigning position to learners. The British that brought education to us don't even use position rather they give a subject based report based on what the child's ability.

    ReplyDelete

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