According to a recent report, cases of corporal punishment in schools are on the rise in spite of the 11-year-old SC judgement that prohibits the practice
Two years ago, the news of a school student committing suicide after being beaten up at school in Kolkata shocked the country. However, corporal punishment continues to plague the education system in the country.
Rouvanjit Rawla, 12, killed himself in February 2010, days after being allegedly humiliated and caned by the principal of his school, La Martiniere School for Boys. Many believed that there would be an end to corporal punishment but the number of cases registered this year show a definite rise in the practice.
According to the latest National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) report, 68 complaints of corporal punishment were made in 2010-11 against 42 cases in 2008-09 and 61 in 2009-10 respectively.
Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh are the worst performers with the maximum number of complaints of corporal punishment. Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh recorded 17, 12 and 7 cases of corporal punishment in 2010-11 respectively.
A 2000 Supreme Court judgment prohibited corporal punishment in all forms in India. The NCPCR also issued guidelines to the education departments of all the states and to the various chief secretaries.
Education experts cite the authoritative attitude of the teachers as the main problem. Dr Shayama Chona, former principal of Delhi Public School, RK Puram and the founder of Tamana, an educational non-profit organisation says, “We belong to a nation which gave birth to Gandhi. Non-violence is supposed to be the norm, but this principle is not followed by teachers.”
Shikha Pal, assistant manager of formal school education at Deepalaya, a non-profit organisation that works in the areas of school education says, “If a child has a problem, it is important to reach out to the him/her, engage in dialogue and sort out the issue,” added Pal.
Highlighting the psychological impact of corporal punishments on children, Dr Sameer Malhotra, head of psychiatry division at Fortis Hospital says, “Punishment will not discipline a child. One must find out the cause of a student’s improper behaviour,” added Malhotra.
Emphasising the government policies in place, Lov Verma, member secretary at National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) says, “The guidelines have been issued but depending on rules and regulations will not eradicate the menace.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}