PANJIM: Despite awareness campaigns and initiatives, many school students continue to face corporal punishment, which can have severe long-term repercussions on their minds.
The issue is widespread in India and the Central government recently documented that 65 percent of school-going children face corporal punishment, claiming that the biggest threat to eradicating it is lack of awareness.
The recent incident at a Loyola school, wherein the principal allegedly assaulted a 13-year-old boy in the school premises, has shocked the authorities, especially as it occurred at a time when Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) is conducting workshops for primary teachers in government and aided schools to sensitise them on corporal punishment.
Speaking to Herald, GSCPCR chairperson Dr Sushma P Kirtani said, “What has happened is shocking. We will be meeting the Director of Education over this matter on what action the authority intendeds to take. After meeting the Education Director an appropriate decision will be taken. GSCPCR has started conducting workshops for teachers in government and aided schools to sensitise teachers on corporal punishment and to inculcate positive disciplining methods.”
Repeated incidents of corporal punishment in schools have had parents worried about their child’s safety at school leading to demands that strict action be taken against the guilty so that such incidents can be curtailed.
“Time and again we keep hearing about incidents of corporal punishment from the best of schools. Most of these cases are not followed up by the school management or even Education Department. In most cases the complainant’s parents and students are targeted in school and hence many end up keeping quiet,” Nihal Xec, a parent, said.
Goa Headmaster Association president Vithoba Desai said, “GHA has taken cognisance of the matter and we are in the process of studying the entire issue. Once we study the matter, the association will declare its stand.”
While most of today’s teachers and parents might have grown up with corporal punishment as part of the schooling process, it has gradually become unpopular. Most parents no longer beat their children and so find it difficult to accept this as a form of correction.
Sources said that some teachers and senior students often take advantage of no corporal punishment to express their base instincts.
Education Director G P Bhat was not available for official comment on what action the department intends to take in the Margao school matter.
