The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its stance against corporal punishment in public schools, emphasizing counseling as a more effective corrective measure.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, reiterating that flogging students for indiscipline remains strictly prohibited.
According to Alli-Balogun, corporal punishment poses risks such as injuries, fainting, or even fatalities, making it an unacceptable disciplinary method. Instead, the government encourages counseling as a means of correcting misbehavior.
“There is a policy here in Lagos and other parts of the country prohibiting teachers from giving corporal punishment to students/pupils,” he stated. “Against flogging, we have adopted counseling as a measure of correction.”
He added that minor disciplinary actions such as kneeling down, picking dirt, or cutting grass within school premises could still be applied to reinforce positive behavior.
Alli-Balogun attributed some cases of student misbehavior to poor parental upbringing, urging parents to take more responsibility for their children’s discipline.
“As a government, we will continue to do our best to eradicate indiscipline and make the learning environment friendly for all,” he assured.
The commissioner noted that since the implementation of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme in 2022, there has been a notable improvement in student discipline, with students becoming more conscious of their actions and consequences.
