Lagos reaffirms ban on flogging in schools, upholds counselling

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed that it does not tolerate corporal punishment in public schools and has upheld counseling as an effective correctional measure.

The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.

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

He also said that the aim was to guard against inflicting injury on students, the fainting of students, or even the death of any student due to flogging by a class teacher.

According to him, 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. Against flogging of students, we have adopted counselling as a measure of correction,” he said.

He added that minor punishments such as kneeling, picking up 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. The idea is to bring to the student’s knowledge, reasons he/she must not misbehave.

“The counselling  is basically to correct.”

He 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 Lagos State Government banned corporal punishment in 2022.

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