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Corporal punishment banned
11/09/2000 18:07 - (SA)
Pretoria - Education authorities are to embark on a concerted drive to root
out all forms of corporal punishment in schools, Education Minister
Kader Asmal said on Monday.
Guilty teachers would be criminally prosecuted without exception
and principals allowing such practices would face dismissal, Asmal
told reporters in Pretoria.
After meeting MECs for education, Asmal said he intended asking the
prosecution authority to pay special attention to cases involving
corporal punishment.
"There must be universal application of the law, regardless of the
extent of pain inflicted. We have to change the culture of
violence."
The Constitutional Court last month rejected an application by
Christian Education SA that corporal punishment be brought back to
classrooms.
Asmal said the education MECs on Monday vowed to pay close
attention to all forms of corporal punishment.
Principals would be advised in a circular that they were
responsible for ensuring such punishment did not occur.
Those failing to do so would be in breach of their employment
contract.
"The criminal or civil liability will rest on the individual
teacher," Asmal said.
Inflicting or condoning corporal punishment was a dismissable
offence, and would be treated as such.
Asmal said he could not say to what extent pupils were still being
disciplined in this way, adding: Maybe you should ask Christian
Education SA what they have been doing."
Alternative measures to enforce discipline were currently being
finalised, and details would be released within about two weeks.
Asmal said there was an "enormous" demand from teachers for
guidelines on how they should maintain discipline in schools.
Turning to racism in schools, the minister said criminal
prosecution was not necessarily the best way to deal with the
problem.
"There must attempts at reconciliation, and attempts at furthering
greater understanding. Young people need assistance," Asmal said. - Sapa
- SAPA
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