Corpun file 12507

The Nation, Lahore, 3 January 2004

CS against corporal punishment

By our Staff Reporter

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool has directed Secretary Education to take immediate notice on complaint of corporal punishment of students in any school so that this practice could be completely wiped out from educational institutions.

He issued these instructions during a briefing given by Secretary Education regarding his departmental affairs here on Thursday. Apprising the Chief Secretary about various on-going programmes in education sector, the Secretary Education informed that 6,890 schools have been upgraded in the province during the last two years under community participation programme. 

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Corpun file 12802

Dawn, Karachi/Lahore, 14 January 2004

Corporal punishment banned in NWFP

By Muqaddam Khan

SWABI, Jan 13: The [North West Frontier Province] provincial education department has imposed a complete ban on corporal punishment in schools and teachers are directed to use alternative methods for inculcating discipline in students.

A letter (1803-30/F. No 13/DS &1/M&N/G:Corr: dated Dec 13, 2003) by the director of schools and literacy, Mohammad Jamshed Khan, directed that corporal punishment in schools was banned.

The letter is issued to all district education officers and will be forwarded to principals, headmasters and headmistresses for necessary action.

The letter stated that it was reported that some teachers gave corporal punishment in schools which was not desirable. It said: "There is complete ban on all sort of physical punishment and scolding on students in schools."

The education officers were also directed to pass necessary instructions to all heads of schools in their jurisdiction to avoid giving corporal punishment to students.

The letter stressed that instead of corporal punishment, the teachers should apply positive tactics for imparting education to students. "Positive incentives and awards will make the teaching- learning process more interesting and effective", the letter concluded.

Sources said that Federal Education Minister Zubeiba Jalal had also issued a similar letter banning corporal punishment in schools. The teachers had been ordered to avoid harsh treatment of students, the sources added.

TEACHERS' REACTION: The teachers were of the view that the lack of a conducive environment for studies created hurdles for students and the unfavourable circumstances forced teachers to give physical punishment to students to make them pay more attention to their studies.

They admitted that through corporal punishment the teachers could only achieve short term objectives. The government must take steps to provide facilities in schools to make the teachers more friendly towards students.

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004