Lagos state government bans flogging in schools

The Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, says that the state government has put a stop to all forms of corporal punishment in its public schools.

Adefisayo, represented by Mrs Adumasi Bosede, a Director in the Ministry, said this at the scientific conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba in Lagos State on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the programme is: “Corporal Punishment in the Modern African Setting”, with the Sub-theme: Examining the Scientific Evidence behind Corporal Punishment”

Adefisayo, also the special guest of honour at the event, defined “Corporal Punishment as any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pains or discomfort, however light on the receiver.”

She decried the prevalence of corporal punishment in schools and homes, as the effects in most cases result to negative outcomes.

According to her, there are instances where corporal punishment meted out to students have resulted to the death of the child or student involved.

“There had been occasions whereby corporal punishment given by a teacher to a child either in form of flogging or bullying had eventually led to the the death of the child, thereby implicating the teacher.

“To avert such ugly incidents, including other negative effects of corporal punishment; there is a policy in Lagos State prohibiting teachers from inflicting corporal punishment on students and pupils in schools.

“Meanwhile, there are other alternative ways to discipline and correct children, which are being adopted in the schools,” she said.