By Abigail Philip David
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its stance against corporal punishment in public schools, emphasizing counseling as a more effective disciplinary measure.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, confirmed that flogging students for misconduct remains strictly prohibited. He explained that the ban aims to prevent potential injuries, fainting spells, or even fatal incidents resulting from physical punishment by teachers.
“There is a policy in Lagos and other parts of the country prohibiting teachers from administering corporal punishment to students,” Alli-Balogun stated. “Instead, we have adopted counseling as a corrective measure.”
While corporal punishment is banned, the commissioner noted that minor disciplinary actions—such as kneeling, picking up litter, or cutting grass—may still be used as positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior.
“The goal is to help students understand why misbehavior is unacceptable,” he said. “Counseling is intended to correct, not to punish.”
Alli-Balogun attributed much of the misconduct among students to inadequate parental guidance and urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s upbringing.
“As a government, we will continue working to eliminate indiscipline and create a conducive learning environment for all,” he added.
He also noted that discipline among students has improved since the implementation of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme in 2022, which formally banned corporal punishment in Lagos schools.
