Editorial
Ban on corporal punishment
Is it working?
It is obvious that children are the future of the nation. How well are we grooming them? The government has banned corporal punishment in schools. Yet, stories of such incidents crop up intermittently. A survey conducted by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Dhaka couple of years ago depicted a horrific picture of physical abuse in schools.
Such punishment is also not uncommon in families. It is harmful for the development of a child. Many children are reluctant to be in school in the first place. Fear of corporal punishment worsens the situation. It causes undue stress and an adverse impact on the development of young minds. Studies have shown that corporal punishment can sometimes cause a loss of self-confidence.
Our aim should be to attract children to schools, not the other way around. The adolescent stage is a critical time when opinions and personalities are formed. And it is imperative to create an environment that fosters development of morally sound minds. Children look to their teachers as examples.
Furthermore, teachers themselves need training on how to deal with young minds and the associated behavioural aberrations without resorting to violence. Teachers' training is now becoming more important as universal primary education is regarded as the foundation of developing a good educational system. The government needs to impose stricter guidelines and training for teachers. A trickle down effect will be that when schools preach better conduct, the corporal punishment inside families can also go down. Educate, not intimidate.
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