Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has reiterated its stance against corporal punishment in public schools, emphasizing counseling as a more effective disciplinary measure.

The 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. He reaffirmed that flogging students for indiscipline and misconduct remains strictly prohibited in Lagos State schools.

According to Alli-Balogun, the decision is aimed at preventing injuries, fainting spells, or even fatalities that could arise from corporal punishment administered by teachers.

“There is a policy here in Lagos and other parts of the country prohibiting teachers from giving corporal punishment to students or pupils,” the commissioner stated. “Instead of flogging, we have adopted counseling as a corrective measure.”

He added that minor disciplinary actions such as kneeling, picking up litter, or cutting grass within school premises could still be applied as positive reinforcement methods to encourage good behavior.

“The idea is to make students understand why they should not misbehave. Counseling is primarily meant to correct them,” he explained.

Alli-Balogun attributed many cases of student misbehavior to inadequate parental guidance, urging parents to take greater responsibility in shaping their children’s character.

“Parents must wake up to their responsibilities and dedicate time to their children,” he said. “As a government, we will continue working to eradicate indiscipline and ensure a conducive learning environment for all.”

The Lagos State Government officially banned corporal punishment in schools in 2022 and subsequently introduced the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme to promote a safer educational environment.

Officials say the policy has contributed to noticeable improvements in student discipline across public schools.