- No Corporal Punishment: The Lagos State Government has reiterated its ban on corporal punishment in public schools, instead emphasizing counseling as a more effective disciplinary measure.
- Alternative Measures: The state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, suggested minor corrective measures like kneeling, picking up litter, or cutting grass within school premises as alternatives to flogging.
- Improved Discipline: Since the ban on flogging, discipline among students has improved significantly, with students becoming more conscious of their actions and potential consequences.
- Parental Involvement: Alli-Balogun attributed most cases of student misbehavior to poor parental upbringing and urged parents to be more involved in their children’s lives.
- Safeguarding and Child Protection: The Lagos State Government launched the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme in Schools in 2022 to reinforce child safety and promote alternative disciplinary measures.
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its prohibition of corporal punishment in public schools, emphasizing counseling as a more effective disciplinary measure. The state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, reaffirmed the stance during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
Alli-Balogun stressed that flogging students for indiscipline and other misbehaviors remains strictly prohibited to prevent injuries, fainting, or even fatal incidents. “There is a policy here in Lagos and other parts of the country prohibiting teachers from giving corporal punishment to students/pupils,” he stated.
The commissioner noted that minor corrective measures such as kneeling, picking up litter, or cutting grass within school premises could be employed as alternatives. He described these as part of “positive reinforcement,” a strategy aimed at shaping student behavior and encouraging desirable outcomes.
Alli-Balogun attributed most cases of student misbehavior to poor parental upbringing and urged parents to be more involved in their children’s lives. He further noted that since the ban on flogging, discipline among students has improved significantly, with students becoming more conscious of their actions and potential consequences.
The Lagos State Government officially banned corporal punishment in both public and private schools in 2022. In the same year, it launched the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme in Schools to reinforce child safety and promote alternative disciplinary measures.
