Corporal punishment: 7 teachers face music
Education ministry and madrasa board submit two reports to the High Court on Nov 11 as per its directive
In a bid to implement the court order to ban corporal punishment on school students, different actions were taken against seven school and madrasa teachers for torturing students across the country since March this year.
Ministry of Education and madrasa education board said this in their reports. They submitted two reports to the High Court through the attorney general's office on November 11 as per its earlier directive.
One report informed that the government has framed a rule prohibiting any kind of physical and mental punishment on students in educational institutions.
The institution authorities took action against the accused teachers, including suspension of two teachers for giving corporal punishment, it added.
In response to a writ petition, the HC on October 26 directed the government to submit reports on the steps taken regarding the incidents of corporal punishment in schools across the country between March and October this year.
Human rights organisations Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) jointly filed the petition in July this year against the backdrop of the increasing number of such incidents.
The HC will soon hold hearing on the issue, Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Sazu told The Daily Star on November 22.
The ministry of education, in its report, said Md Shamsuddin, assistant teacher of Chhoto Munshipara Government Primary School of Dhobaura upazila in Mymensingh, was suspended on July 15 this year for beating Md Anwar Hossain, a student of class four, with a stick on July 14.
A departmental case was lodged against Shamsuddin on July 21 in this connection.
Khulna district primary education office recommended the Directorate of Primary Education to take departmental proceedings against Baby Bishwash, assistant teacher of Nazrul Nagar Government Primary School of the district, for beating Laboni Aktar, a student of class four, it said.
Feni district primary education office lodged a departmental case against Ratna Roy, headmistress of Birinchi Ideal Government Primary School of Feni Sadar upazila, for caning with 10 to 12 students on March 8.
The case was filed under Government Employees (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1985.
The governing body of Ideal School and College, Motijheel, Dhaka rebuked and warned Md Shahjahan Ali, physical trainer of the institution, on October 7, for cutting the hair of 15 students as punishment on September 22, according to the report.
Madrasa education board, in its report, said the authorities concerned of Jummahat Darul Ulum Fazil (Senior) Madrasa of Ulipur upazila in Kurigram suspended one of its teacher for torturing a student of the institution.
Authorities concerned of Baharbagh Abed Ali Dakhil Madrasa in Magura rebuked its teacher Md Idris Hossain for torturing a student.
Akndapara Dakhil Madrasa authorities fined its teacher Moulana Abdul Wahab Tk 5,000 for torturing its student Mehei, according to the report.
The education ministry on August 8 issued a circular asking the district education officers and upazila secondary education officers to take action under the existing law along with departmental action against such misconduct.
Teachers should help flourish physical and mental growth of the students and groom them up as worthy citizens, it said, adding that students' educational progress is hampered due to physical punishment.
In the circular, the government also directed the heads of respective educational institutions to take necessary steps to stop physical punishment. The school management committees will identify the teachers and take remedial measures to this end, it added.
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