Following the tragic death of a Senior Secondary School 2 student, Monday Arijo, of Obada Secondary School in Ogun State, the Lyceum Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has called on the state government to establish a policy banning corporal punishment in public primary and secondary schools.
Arijo reportedly died after enduring 24 strokes of the cane and 162 frog jumps administered by his teacher, Mr. Amzadjo Elijah. This incident led to the immediate suspension of both Mr. Elijah and the school’s principal, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo.
The state government, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Argbabu, visited the grieving family and issued a stern warning that any teacher found guilty of corporal punishment would face severe consequences.
Reacting to the incident, the Director of Lyceum Foundation, Mrs. Maureen Ola-Williams, appealed to the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun to adopt policies to prohibit corporal punishment in schools. She voiced her concerns at a teacher training program in partnership with the State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, which was held at St. Peter’s College in Abeokuta.
“Government should create a policy against corporal punishment in public schools to safeguard children,” said Mrs. Ola-Williams. “When teachers come into a school, they should already know the policies in place, understand the curriculum, and have guidelines to work with students in a constructive manner.”
She further noted that many students suffer from conditions like hearing and sight impairments, making corporal punishment especially harmful. Instead, she encouraged teachers to communicate with students, stating, “Words go deeper and are stronger than the cane.” Mrs. Ola-Williams advised teachers to manage students through positive discipline methods and to avoid punitive beatings, which she said often do more harm than good.
