Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.25234/dosd/37518
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE: A LEGAL AND CRIMINOLOGICAL APPRAISAL OF DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES IN NIGERIAN SCHOOLS
Folake Bejide
; Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B. 13, Ile-Ife, 220282 Osun, Nigeria
Sažetak
This paper critically appraises the persistent use of corporal punishment and physical violence as disciplinary measures in Nigerian schools. Despite the existence of international and national legal provisions safeguarding children’s rights to dignity and protection from harm, the Nigerian educational system continues to normalise violent disciplinary practices. The objective of the study is to examine the legal, cultural, and criminological dimensions of corporal punishment in Nigerian schools and to assess whether these practices align with established legal standards and the best interests of the child. Adopting a doctrinal methodology, the paper analyses domestic legal instruments such as the Criminal Code, Penal Code, and the Child Rights Act alongside international human rights frameworks including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The study also draws on criminological literature and media reports to contextualise the socio-legal implications of corporal punishment. In addition, selected case studies and media-reported incidents are examined to illustrate the practical realities of enforcement and institutional response. The selection of these case studies is guided by their relevance to recurring legal and procedural gaps, as well as their representation of diverse geographical and socio-economic contexts. These sources are included particularly because many incidents of child physical abuse remain fragmented, underreported, or never progress to formal adjudication, thereby necessitating reliance on credible media documentation and investigative reports to fill existing empirical voids. The findings reveal a significant disjunction between legal protections and actual practice. While Nigerian laws permit moderate physical correction, numerous reported cases reveal extreme and harmful punishments that amount to physical abuse, psychological trauma, and in some instances, fatal outcomes. Cultural and religious beliefs, inadequate teacher training, and weak regulatory enforcement further perpetuate these abuses. The paper concludes that corporal punishment, in its current form and practice, no longer functions as a legitimate disciplinary tool but instead operates as a vehicle for violence against children. It calls for urgent legal reform, enhanced teacher education, and a broader cultural shift towards positive, non-violent disciplinary approaches in Nigerian schools.
Ključne riječi
corporal punishment; schools; physical violence; children
Hrčak ID:
343998
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.12.2025.
Posjeta: 1.134 *