Nigeria’s first trauma-informed school is growing. In October of 2024, high school students were able to attend their new school under the tutelage of teachers specifically trained in trauma competency, with an understanding of how difficult pasts can impact focus and behavior.
As the high school students began their new educational journey, there were moments of tension and weeks of adjustment as the young adults adjusted to a new style of learning, teaching, and classroom operations. Those periods of transition were filled with misbehaviors and lower-than-expected test scores, but their teachers remained steadfast and patient, understanding changes can be difficult to navigate.
“We were quick to assure them that disruptive behavior wouldn’t be tolerated, that we were creating learning spaces that allowed them to be safe and remain regulated,” Back2Back staff shared.
The teaching staff gathered with the new students and the Principal and Vice Principal of the school. They oriented the students about the standards of the school and expectations for each of them. An important step in Nigerian education is to register for and pass a national exam before submitting applications to universities. Staff wanted the students to understand the weight of their decisions in the classrooms and how it would impact their futures. After taking their practice exams, the results were significantly lower than expected, and the staff understood their academic gaps needed attention and correction.
Following the town hall-style meeting between students and educators, there was a turning point among the soon-to-be graduating students; they were more committed and more focused on their studies. Staff also helped them create study groups to ensure they were sticking to schedules and truly investing time in their futures. Their teachers continued to pour into them, encouraging their hard work and helping them remember what their goals were and how they could reach them.
In addition to daily conversations about study habits and group study meetings, there was also an intensive study program organized by the school two weeks before their national exams. There, students narrowed in on the areas they needed the most growth in and, with the help of safe adults, they prepared daily for the exam that would help decide their futures.
Following the two-week intensive, students took the national exams, and they each passed! Their commitment to hard work and understanding the importance of preparation paid off in great ways. And on August 7, 2025, 14 high school students graduated with their sights set on the future. This group of young adults is proof of what investment can do and just how successful we can be when we have a community around us.
