Ridicule, Human Dignity, And Learner Well-Being In Pre-Tertiary Education

There is a growing habit of unhealthy behaviour in our homes, communities, and society in general. To some people, it looks harmless. Others see it as a joke or friendly teasing. It is common among the elderly, young people, and even children. However, what seems normal can sometimes lead to conflict and even violence. Ridicule has slowly become a problem in our society.

Some politicians also use ridicule against each other, and this often leads to arguments. We see it on the media every day. Sadly, this same behaviour is also found among learners in our basic schools.

If we truly understood how harmful ridicule is, we would not allow it in our schools.

In the past, some students had to hide their true feelings and fake smiles just to avoid being laughed at by their classmates. What looked like normal fun was actually painful for many learners. Some students who could not bear it left school. Others fought back whenever they were mocked. In some cases, ridicule caused long-term anger and broken friendships.

Over time, ridicule became part of school life. But it caused more harm than good. It left deep emotional pain that many learners still carry. Ridicule is one of the silent problems many students face in school.

What made me write this article is the experience of a schoolmate. He could no longer tolerate the way his classmates mocked him and even thought of leaving the boarding house. He used crutches because he had a physical challenge. I often saw him crying, and I felt sorry for him.

One day, I asked him how he ended up using crutches. He explained that when he was a young boy, he became very sick, and it affected his ability to walk. Because of this, some students mocked him.

He later reported the issue to the hall master. Action was taken, and the ridicule stopped. After that, he became more confident and started mixing freely with others. No one mocked him again.

This shows that ridicule can stop when it is addressed properly.

Ridicule appears in many forms in schools.
Some students are mocked through nicknames that hurt their feelings. Others are laughed at because of their academic performance, handwriting, reading ability, or wrong answers in class. Even students who struggle to complete tasks are sometimes laughed at.

These things may look small, but they can deeply affect a learner’s confidence. A student who is always laughed at may stop trying not because they cannot do it, but because they are afraid of being embarrassed.

O, my! Sometimes even a student’s name becomes a reason for ridicule. If a name is not common or is difficult to pronounce, other students may turn it into a joke. This can continue for many years and affect the learner’s confidence.

Teachers are also not safe from ridicule. Some are mocked because of how they dress, how they speak, or small mistakes they make while teaching. Some students even give teachers funny nicknames.

I remember a situation in school where a teacher left the classroom because she could not tolerate the way students were mocking her. She later reported the whole class. What happened next? Your guess is as good as mine.

Sometimes, when students break school rules and are punished, other students use ridicule to mock them. Instead of learning from punishment, it becomes a time for jokes. Once ridicule becomes part of school culture, it becomes difficult to stop.

Human dignity
If my schoolmate had not spoken up, the ridicule could have continued and slowly destroyed his confidence and self-respect.

His story is not the only one.
During a school health programme in Accra, a girl shared this:

“The toilets are not good. If you go there during your period, people laugh at you. So some girls prefer to stay at home.”(FGD, Primary Girl, Southern Zone)

This shows that even natural things like menstruation can become a reason for ridicule. Instead of helping these girls, others laugh at them.

A few weeks ago, I came across a video of a senior high school learner who was in tears after discovering that his laptop had been stolen. Instead of consoling him or helping to locate the missing laptop, some of his colleagues were seen recording videos and ridiculing him. The incident was disturbing because it showed how easily empathy can be replaced with mockery. At a moment when the learner needed support and understanding, he became the subject of ridicule.

Such incidents remind us that ridicule is not always directed at a person's appearance, ability, or background. Sometimes, people are ridiculed simply because they are going through a difficult situation. This can deepen their emotional pain and leave lasting memories long after the incident has passed.

How would you feel if you were in their situation: ashamed, embarrassed, or unwanted?

This is just one example of a bigger problem that needs serious attention.

Over time, constant ridicule can make students feel like nobody likes them. They may feel useless or unimportant. They start to doubt themselves. Some stop joining class activities, while others stop coming to school regularly. In serious cases, some even drop out of school.

What's more, I watched on television how some female students who became pregnant while in school said they could not return to continue their education because they feared ridicule from their peers. How unfortunate. At a time when they needed support and encouragement, the fear of mockery became a barrier to their education. This shows how ridicule can silently drive learners away from school and limit their future opportunities.

Research findings also support the link between ridicule and poor school attendance. A study by Máiréad D. et al. (2019) titled Bullying and School Attendance: A Case Study of Senior High School Students in Ghana found that bullying in its various forms, including ridicule, was associated with increased absenteeism among both boys and girls. This suggests that when learners feel unsafe, embarrassed, or targeted by their peers, they may avoid school altogether. Such absenteeism not only affects academic performance but also limits opportunities for social and personal development.

The findings serve as a reminder that ridicule is not merely a harmless joke. It can influence learners' willingness to attend school, participate in learning activities, and remain engaged in the educational process.

Contributing factors
Parenting is one contributing factor. Some parents who should guide children away from harmful behaviour instead engage in ridicule themselves.

If a learner’s parents are not wealthy or do not hold any recognised social status, this can also become a basis for ridicule among peers. Socio-economic background is sometimes turned into a weapon of mockery, further deepening feelings of exclusion and inferiority among affected learners.

Children imitate what they observe at home and may come to see ridicule as normal, carrying it into school.

Another factor is lack of awareness. Some learners do not fully understand the emotional and psychological harm ridicule causes. To them, it appears to be a joke, especially when many others engage in it.

In addition, some schools lack clear rules and consistent enforcement regarding such behaviour. Teachers may focus mainly on academic instruction and pay less attention to educating learners about respect, empathy, and human dignity. As a result, ridicule becomes normalised, leaving many learners to suffer in silence.

In football especially, this is very common. When the national team performs badly or loses important games, some supporters quickly go on social media and insult the players. They forget that these players are human beings who also feel pain. Instead of encouraging them to improve, they are laughed at and called names. This kind of behaviour affects players’ confidence and can even affect future performance.

This same attitude from society influences what happens in schools. If adults behave this way, children will also copy it.

Way forward
Basic schools should be safe places where every learner feels respected and valued. School leaders must make clear rules against ridicule and ensure they are followed. Teachers should teach students about respect, kindness, and human dignity.

Parents must also set good examples at home because children copy what they see more than what they are told.

Most importantly, students must understand that people are different in appearance, ability, background, and situation. These differences should never be used to mock others.

Every child deserves to learn in a safe environment where they feel accepted and valued.

As positive reinforcement helps learning, ridicule destroys confidence and growth. If we truly want better education and better learners, then we must take ridicule seriously and stop it in our schools.

WRITTEN BY
Henry Atta Nyame
Institutional Assessment Practitioner
hattanyame@gmail.com

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