A friend of yours was involved in a fight that took place in school and has been expelled by the school authorities. In a letter to your Principal, give an ...

Answer Details

How to approach this question: This is a formal letter to the Principal. It needs the writer's address, date, the Principal's title and address, a formal salutation, a title, a body giving an account of the fight and reasons the friend should not have been expelled, a formal close and signature. Below is a model answer.

Senior Boys' Hostel,
Command Secondary School,
Kaduna.
10 July, 2026.

The Principal,
Command Secondary School,
Kaduna.

Dear Sir,

A PLEA FOR THE RECONSIDERATION OF MY FRIEND'S EXPULSION

I write with the greatest respect to give an honest account of the fight that occurred in the school last week and to appeal for a reconsideration of the expulsion of my friend, Ibrahim Sani, of SS 2 Blue.

On the day in question, during the afternoon break, another student, Musa, deliberately knocked over Ibrahim's food and poured water on his textbooks. When Ibrahim protested calmly, Musa slapped him and challenged him to a fight. Ibrahim endured the first blows and tried to walk away, but Musa pursued him and struck him again. It was only then, in defence of himself, that Ibrahim pushed back, and the two boys grappled briefly before other students separated them. I witnessed the whole incident from close by, and I can state truthfully that Ibrahim did not start the fight.

It is against this background that I humbly plead that Ibrahim should not have been expelled. First, he was not the aggressor but the victim who acted only in self-defence after being provoked and struck repeatedly. Secondly, Ibrahim has always been a well-behaved and hardworking student with no record of trouble, and this was his first offence. Thirdly, expulsion is a very severe punishment that could destroy the bright future of a promising student, when a lesser correction would serve the purpose of discipline.

I therefore appeal to your kind heart, Sir, to temper justice with mercy and to give Ibrahim another chance, perhaps through a warning or suspension rather than outright expulsion. I am confident that he has learnt his lesson and will conduct himself well henceforth.

Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

Yours faithfully,
Abdul Yusuf
(SS 2 Blue)