Some public and private schools across the country may face sanctions in the days ahead, should they fail to desist from administering corporal punishment.
The announcement was made by Secondary Education Minister, Nalova Lyonga in a release addressed to schools across the national territory. The Minister in the release, noted that some schools continue to defy the April 1998 law on Guidelines on Education.
In the release, she stated that “cases of corporal punishment are frequently reported in both government and private schools…”
“She reiterates that such a methods of punishment is prohibited in the school milieu…” the press release read, adding that “acceptable and appropriate methods of sanctioning students are included in the internal rules and regulations of the different schools.”
The Secondary Edcuation Minister’s caution statement ended with a warning, specifying that “sanctions will be applied to schools/teachers that will practise such method of punishing students in schools.”
It remains uncertain whether teachers and school staff in general with comply and adhere to the warning. This, is given the tense atmosphere of operation between teachers and students over the past three years. Multiple cases of violence have been reported, including teachers being stabbed by their own students.
While Minister Nalova has often prescribed dismissal of students in such cases of violence, many say that alone will not be an adequate panacea, as more intense punishment forms need to be sought after.