Flogging students is prohibited in Lagos schools, commissioner warns teachers

The Lagos government has reiterated its prohibition of corporal punishment in public schools and has upheld counselling as an effective correctional measure.

Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the state commissioner for basic and secondary education, spoke to NAN on Monday.

Alli-Balogun said flogging students for indiscipline and other forms of misbehaviour remained prohibited.

He said that the aim was to guard against inflicting injury, fainting, or even death due to flogging by a class teacher.

The commissioner said flogging is not the best way to correct a student.

“There is a policy here in Lagos and other parts of the country prohibiting teachers from giving corporal punishment to students/pupils,” he said.

“Against flogging of students, we have adopted counselling as a measure of correction.”

Alli-Balogun said minor punishments such as kneeling, picking dirt, and cutting grass within the school premises could also be applied.

“This is part of our positive reinforcement,  it is a powerful tool for shaping behaviour and encouraging desired outcomes,” he added.

“The idea is to bring to the student’s knowledge, reasons he/she must not misbehave.

“The counselling  is basically to correct.”

Alli-Balogun blamed most misbehaviour by students on poor parental upbringing.

“Parents must wake up to their responsibilities and have time for their children. As a government, we will continue to do our best to eradicate indiscipline and make the learning environment friendly for all,” he added.

The commissioner said that there has been an improvement in discipline among students.

“Students are now becoming conscious of their actions and  the consequences.”

The Lagos state government banned corporal punishment in 2022 for both privately-owned and public schools.

It implemented the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme in School that same year.