The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to prohibiting corporal punishment in public schools, instead advocating for counseling as a constructive disciplinary method.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
Alli-Balogun said that flogging students for indiscipline and other forms of misbehaviour remained prohibited.
He said that the aim was to guard against inflicting injury on students, fainting of students or even 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,” he said.
“Against flogging of students, we have adopted counselling as a measure of correction.”
He added that minor punishments such as kneeling down, picking dirt, and cutting grasses 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 counseling 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,” he said.
“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 had 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 and implemented the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme in Schools.
