Following the ban on corporal punishment in Lagos schools, education stakeholders have demanded clearer discipline guidelines, the employment of more guidance counsellors, and closer partnerships among parents, school authorities, and the government to address rising cases of student misconduct.

The call was made at the Lagos State School Discipline Policy Roundtable organised by the Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF), with support from SIFAX Group.

The event themed: ‘Assessing the impact of banning corporal punishment on discipline in schools: Exploring alternative strategies for managing student misconduct’, was held as part of activities commemorating this year’s International Teachers’ Day.

It brought together policymakers, school administrators, teachers, students, civil society organisations and representatives of government agencies.

The event also featured the recognition and presentation of cash gifts to outstanding teachers in Lagos State following a statewide nomination exercise conducted by the foundation.

At the end of the exercise, Modupe Odumade of Ijaye Ojokoro Senior High School emerged as the highest-ranked teacher, while others included ThankGod Priscilla, Ramota Balogun, Akinola Oluwatobi, and James Omolade.

Participants at the meeting agreed that although the ban on corporal punishment aligned with child rights and child protection principles, schools require clearer operational guidelines, stronger institutional support and effective alternatives to address behavioural challenges.

A statewide policy review conducted by AAAF across Lagos State’s five administrative divisions formed the core of the meeting’s deliberations.

The study covered 451 students, 42 school leaders and teachers, while 150 students participated in focus group discussions across 15 schools.

Presenting the findings, the researchers said while a majority of students surveyed described discipline in their schools as relatively good, many educators expressed concerns about inadequate guidance on disciplinary alternatives following the prohibition of corporal punishment.

According to the report, gaps exist in policy implementation, teacher capacity, institutional support and stakeholder engagement.

It noted that some schools lacked school-level disciplinary frameworks to operationalise the state policy, while teachers reported insufficient training on alternative disciplinary measures.

The report recommended greater clarity in disciplinary policies, continuous capacity building for teachers, development of school-level disciplinary frameworks, stronger parental participation and periodic review of discipline policies to reflect emerging realities.

In his remarks, Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, said discipline remained fundamental to educational success and national development.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Strategy and Operations of the organisation, Oliver Omajuwa, the SIFAX boss, who doubles as Chairman, Board of Trustees of AAAF, said the discussion was not merely about policy, but about safeguarding children’s future, strengthening teachers’ confidence and building a society anchored on responsibility and character.

He said schools should be environments where children could learn safely and teachers could teach with dignity, adding that discipline should promote character, responsibility, and growth rather than fear and resentment.

Afolabi urged stakeholders to approach the issue with open minds and develop practical solutions that would place the best interests of children at the centre of educational reforms.

Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, said many behavioural challenges confronting schools reflected wider societal problems.

Alli-Balogun said while government policies were important, their effective implementation depended largely on cooperation among parents, schools and communities.

He expressed concern over the growing disconnect between parents and schools, noting that some parents fail to respond when invited to discuss behavioural concerns involving their wards.

On her part, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said corporal punishment often fails to produce lasting behavioural change.

She instead advocated disciplinary approaches based on communication, guidance, and accountability, describing physical punishment as a method that could instil fear without necessarily developing character.

Participants also identified emerging challenges that require new approaches to school discipline, including social media influence, changing family structures, peer pressure, mental health concerns, and neurodiversity. They stressed the need to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills required to understand and respond appropriately to these realities.

Students who participated in AAAF’s essay competition on school discipline also contributed to the debate, challenging stakeholders to move away from traditional punitive approaches towards strategies that develop character, responsibility and self-control.

At the end of the roundtable, stakeholders agreed that sustainable reform of school discipline in Lagos requires shared responsibility among government, schools, parents, civil society organisations and students.