Corporal punishment still lurks in the classroom despite being banned

Teachers are still inflicting corporal punishment on pupils, despite it being outlawed in 1996.

At least 13.5% of pupils in KwaZulu-Natal, 11.1% in North West and 10.9% in Eastern Cape reported experiencing corporal punishment and verbal abuse at schools in 2019.

This is according to the latest statistics contained in the General Household Survey: Focus on Schooling 2019, published earlier this year.

The survey found that in recent years Gauteng, the Western Cape and Limpopo had the lowest prevalence of incidences.

“There is no significant difference between male and female learners in the prevalence of experiencing corporal punishment or verbal abuse at school,” the report stated.

Ella Mokgalane, CEO of the SA Council for Educators (Sace), confirmed to Sunday Times Daily that 171 cases of physical assault and corporal punishment involving teachers were reported to them between April 2020 and March 2021.

We also need change to happen at home. Unfortunately, we cannot change the dysfunctional behaviours of communities at large, but we can certainly try to cultivate an educated, values-driven youth base.

—  Western Cape education department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond

In one of the most horrific cases, a video of a KwaZulu-Natal teacher at Richards Bay Secondary School allegedly assaulting a pupil over the head with a piece of wood went viral in June.

Imran Keeka, a member of the DA in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature, told Sunday Times Daily he raised the issue with the province’s education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu.

Meanwhile, Western Cape education department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed to Sunday Times Daily that a teacher who assaulted pupils at Wallacedene Secondary School in Kraaifontein pleaded guilty and was issued with a final written warning and a fine in November.

The matter was also reported to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

She said the pupils had received counselling and the department had informed the human rights commission that the matter had been finalised.

“The conduct of the educator is unacceptable. The department has a zero-tolerance policy on corporal punishment.”

She said the districts were providing an array of skills training in alternative and restorative strategies to deal with pupil discipline.

“We need a change in behaviour from both the learner and the educator when dealing with classroom management.”

She said schools had been asked to choose 12 values for each month of the year and had had ongoing discussions with pupils on values.

The values include respect for one another, kindness, caring, compassion and empathy.

“Many of our principals have reported a decline in learner bullying or ill-discipline as a result of this programme, as they are being taught how to respect and consider one another and their feelings.”

Hammond said the transformation in the attitudes and behaviour of pupils and educators would require time “but we are seeing positive changes in schools where it is effectively being implemented”.

“We also need change to happen at home. Unfortunately, we cannot change the dysfunctional behaviours of communities at large, but we can certainly try to cultivate an educated, values-driven youth base.”

According to the Sace code of professional ethics, an educator must avoid any form of humiliation and must refrain from any form of abuse, physical or psychological.

The highest number of complaints reported to Sace was that of teachers assaulting pupils, colleagues and parents.

A study by the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC), released last month, found boys and pupils from poor families were most likely to experience corporal punishment.

The report stated that boys were perceived as naughty and mischievous, compared with girls, which is why they were more likely to experience corporal punishment.

Researchers polled 3,743 grade 8 pupils from 24 public schools in Tshwane, including 1,625 boys.

Just more than half the pupils said they had experienced corporal punishment at school in the past six months.