Corporal punishment in all schools is inexcusable, let alone in special schools
The swift action by the Ministry of Education in terminating the contract of two teachers at special needs school is laudable provided it is based on solid evidence.
The school head and a teacher were sent home for alleged physical assault. The teacher is accused of assault while the school head allegedly failed to take the necessary action by reporting the alleged incident to Human Resources Department of the ministry.
Special needs students attend this school because they have some form of disability that makes it difficult and challenging for them to go to a normal school.
As such they need special attention, love and affection because of their conditions.
Teachers recruited to teach in special needs schools should be suitably qualified and skilled to handle students. It can be a daunting task for those who are not prepared and unfamiliar to the special environment.
It requires a special breed of teachers who understand the students’ conditions and behaviours and have compassion for them.
Those who do not have these qualities have no place in these schools.
There is no justification whatsoever to use corporal punishment for discipline or correction is abhorrent.
First, it is unlawful. Second, it’s inhumane to inflict physical punishment on students with disabilities who may not have the intellectual capacity to comprehend what it’s all about.
Corporal punishment is banned in all schools. Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Rosy Akbar is absolutely spot on when she says schools are safe places where our children go to learn and make friends and any threat to their safety will not be tolerated. All types of physical abuse are harmful to young people. Mrs Akbar says they cause fear, confusion, anger, guilt or shame over being assaulted.
They can have a negative impact on students’ future and cause a collateral damage in terms of emotional and psychological trauma.
They can drive some students to anti-social behaviour then graduate to serious criminal activities. No parents would want to send their children to school knowing they would be abused and bullied there. Sometimes victims may keep to themselves and never share their pain to their families. That is why it is so important that once an incident happens it must be brought to the attention of the school head.
In this case the school head is culpable for allegedly knowing about it, but failing to inform the ministry which has the power to take disciplinary action.
In the wider context of this incident all teachers need to know that the Child Welfare Act is there to protect the health and welfare of all. It mandates that all incidents must be reported to the Police.
It’s an ideal time to remind everyone that corporal punishment is unacceptable, particularly in the school environment.
No student should be subjected to it and parents can help if they raise their children to follow school rules. That will prevent teachers resorting to desperate measures like corporal punishment to instil discipline.