Hakielimu pushes for positive punishment
A NON Governmental Organisation HakiElimu has called for review of some sections of the laws and guidelines governing the education sector in order to outlaw corporal punishment and other related punishments which provide loopholes for violence against children.
According to the organisation, following the recent incidents of violence against pupils and students in schools, the government should take measures that will restrict corporal punishment and encourage alternative punishments which are positive.
One of the recent violent incidents was reported through a video clip which went viral on social media showing a head teacher for Kakanja Primary School in Kyerwa District in Kagera, Isaya Emmanuel whipping two Standard IV pupils aged nine and ten on their heels.
Addressing the media yesterday in Dar es Salaam, HakiElimu Executive Director Dr John Kalage recommended the review for some sections in the Education Act 1978, Guidelines on Corporal Punishment 2002, and the Law of the Child Act 2009.
He said besides the review, the 600 safety schools programme announced recently by the government should target all 18,000 schools including 12,000 primary and 5000 secondary schools.
“We call upon the government to include this programme in guidelines and regulations governing school operations so that it can be implemented in all schools,” he said.
Kalage also said that the government should come up with a sustainable system for strengthening defence and security to school children, including establishment of child protection desks and children councils.
He said the government and stakeholders should continue to provide education to students, parents and society in general in order to strengthen safety of children when at home, schools, prayer houses and other areas where children are gathered.
“The government should take stringent actions against all those involved in violent acts against children in order to end such acts within and outside the school,” he said.
Regarding teachers on-the-job training, he said the programme should include a module on provision of alternative punishment which are positive and how to deal with students who have behaviour problems.
He further suggested revival of teacher’s ethics and taboos in order to involve even teachers who fail to prevent violent acts committed by their colleagues.
“In many incidents we have seen children being punished while teachers are watching… it is important to use other teachers to help their colleagues to strengthen their life skills and capacity of dealing with challenges facing students,” he said.
More so, he added that the lessons related to ethics and morals should be taught by competent teachers to help students to grow morally and spiritually.
He further said cooperation between parents and teachers should be given priority including identifying responsibilities of teachers and parents.
Besides, the executive director said “according to the statement released by the Police Force, the state of violence cases against children has increased by 25.9 per cent from 5,803 cases reported in 2015 to 7,388 cases in 2020,”
He further commended Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda for taking stern action against the teacher whose clip went viral while whipping the pupils.
