Cracking whip on corporal punishment

AN UMLAZI high school teacher was suspended this morning after a video of her caning pupils went viral last week.

Two videos of teachers caning pupils went viral on social media at the weekend.

In one, a teacher is secretly filmed caning three pupils across the back. In the 49-second clip, fellow classmates laugh as the teacher hits two girls and a boy. In the second video, a male teacher is seen giving a male pupil four strokes on his hand. The department confirmed the second video was filmed at a school in the uMlazi district.

This morning, a high-level delegation visited the school, where the suspension was announced.

Pupils cheered when department head Dr Enoch Nzama made the announcement.

Nzama warned teachers to remain calm and practice restraint when dealing with pupils. He said they were disheartened at having to take such action against a teacher, but the department was firm in its stance against corporal punishment.

Department spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said they had zero tolerance towards corporal punishment. He added that an investigation would be launched at the school.

The teacher is believed to teach history and to have taught at the school for more than 20 years. She is in her sixties.

“No (pupil) should be made to feel like they deserve the punishment, or that this is normal practice. We expect the affected (pupils) to report such incidents to a parent, guardian, teacher or to any person they may trust,” said Nzama.

Mthethwa said pupils subjected to corporal punishment must report the incidents to the principal, who should report them to the department for disciplinary proceedings to be instituted.

“If the principal does not investigate the matter further, (pupils) or their parents can report the incident to the Department of Education’s District Office. They can also escalate the matter further to the provincial offices of the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal.”

Mthethwa said pupils could also report incidents to the police and lay criminal charges.

“We believe there’s usually an alternative to corporal punishment. Corporal punishment is not a creative way to maintain discipline as it is reactive. There is a difference between disciplining and punishing. We are certain that through effective communication, teachers can improve their relationship with pupils so that they no longer need to resort to corporal punishment,” he said.

Adeshini Naicker, operations director at Childline KZN, said the organisation did not endorse corporal punishment. “Corporal punishment in schools is against our law. Unfortunately, many teachers continue to use it as a form of discipline and it is very often for minor transgressions. Parents put teachers in a position of trust and it is unacceptable when that trust is violated,” said Naicker.

She said schools were supposed to be safe for children.

“Teachers and parents need to be educated on children’s rights and the detrimental effect of abuse and corporal punishment on children. Positive discipline needs to be advocated for and promoted,” Naicker said.