Lagos Government Reaffirms Ban on Corporal Punishment in Schools, Emphasizes Counseling

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

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, made this known on Monday while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Alli-Balogun stressed that flogging students remains prohibited under state policy.

“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 counseling as a measure of correction.”

He added that other disciplinary measures, such as kneeling, picking up dirt, or cutting grass within the school premises, could still be applied.

The Lagos State Government initially banned corporal punishment in 2022, implementing the Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme in schools to promote safer disciplinary practices.