Lagos trains 150 school administrators on non-violent disciplinary measures

IKEJA, NIGERIA – The Lagos State Government has trained 150 school administrators on non-violent disciplinary measures to protect pupils from physical and emotional harm and promote safer learning environments across the state.

The administrators, drawn from 150 primary and secondary schools in Education District 4, participated in the training organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).

The programme focused on equipping school administrators with practical approaches to managing pupils’ behaviour without resorting to corporal punishment.

The Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the capacity of school administrators to maintain discipline while protecting children’s rights and well-being.

She clarified that the agency was not advocating the removal of discipline from schools but promoting alternative methods that would enable teachers to correct pupils without inflicting physical or emotional harm.

Vivour-Adeniyi cited cases in which corporal punishment had resulted in serious injuries, including an incident involving a child who reportedly lost sight in the left eye.

She said such cases highlighted the need for school administrators and teachers to adopt safer approaches to correcting misconduct and managing pupils’ behaviour.

According to her, the training was informed by research emphasising the importance of consistency, predictability and clearly defined rules in managing children’s behaviour.

She identified positive reinforcement, restorative justice, guided reflection, early counselling, behavioural contracts and peer mediation as effective alternatives to physical punishment.

Vivour-Adeniyi said the initiative aligned with the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, international child protection standards and modern behavioural science.

She added that the agency planned to extend the training to two additional education districts before the end of 2026 as part of efforts to expand the adoption of non-violent disciplinary practices across schools in the state.

Educators Warn Against Effects of Corporal Punishment

The District Counsellor for Education District 4, Mr Festus Akinboni, said discipline should involve correcting children with love and guidance rather than inflicting pain.

He explained that corporal punishment could produce negative emotional and behavioural consequences, including fear, anger and low self-esteem among pupils.

Akinboni said positive and non-violent disciplinary approaches would help pupils develop good character while creating safer and more supportive learning environments.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that school discipline did not undermine children’s confidence or make them fearful of their teachers.

The training also highlighted the need for teachers to understand the factors that may influence pupils’ behaviour rather than treating every instance of misconduct as deliberate disobedience.

Teachers Urged to Identify Underlying Causes of Misconduct

Another speaker, Ademokun, explained that some behaviours regarded as misconduct could be linked to challenges at home, learning difficulties or developmental conditions.

She stressed the need for teachers to acquire basic counselling skills to identify underlying issues and respond appropriately to pupils experiencing such challenges.

Ademokun cited proximity control, which involves a teacher moving closer to a disruptive pupil to redirect the child’s behaviour, as another alternative to corporal punishment.

She said approaches that prioritise understanding, guidance and positive engagement could strengthen pupils’ confidence and trust in adults.

However, she noted that successful implementation of non-violent disciplinary measures required commitment from both teachers and parents.

The training forms part of efforts to promote child protection within the school system by encouraging educators to adopt disciplinary methods that support pupils’ development without exposing them to physical or emotional harm.

With plans to extend the programme to two additional education districts before the end of 2026, the DSVA aims to broaden awareness and adoption of safer approaches to classroom management across Lagos State.