Corporal Punishment
1
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS IN
SOUTH ASIA
Submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
Day of General Discussion on Violence Against Children
28 September 2001
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
I. INTRODUCTION 4
II. HOW CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY CORPORAL 5
PUNISHMENT
2.1 Risk for the Child’s Physical and Psychological Health 5
2.2 Impact on Retention and Learning Achievements 6
III. LEGAL FRAMEWORK 7
3.1 The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the CRC Committe 7
3.2 National Legislation Against Corporal Punishment in South Asia 8
IV. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS IN SOUTH ASIA 11
V. WHY CORPORALPUNISHMENT IN SOUTH ASIA? 15
5.1 Fixed and Strong Power Relations 15
5.2 The Home Environment 17
5.3 The School System in South Asia 18
VI. ADDRESSING THE ISSUE 22
6.1 Need for Judicial Reform and Child-centred Learning 22
6.2 UNICEF Programme Activities in South Asia 23
VII. THE WAY FORWARD: AN AGENDA FOR UNICEF 25
REFERENCES 27
For further information contact:
Child Protection and Gender Section
UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: + 977 – 1 517 082
E-mail: rosa@unicef.org
3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Corporal punishment is a common phenomenon in the daily life of South Asian children
– at home, in schools, in places of work and in their neighbourhoods. Although very little research exists, testimonies from students, parents and teachers, as well as incidences reported in the media, suggest that corporal punishment is a common problem in many schools in the region. Not only are children physically and psychologically affected by corporal punishment, violence in schools and fear of teachers contributes significantly to children dropping out of school. Some children suffer a greater risk of corporal punishment due to their ethnic, family or class background.
Children with disabilities are also more vulnerable to physical and psychological punishment. Corporal punishment in schools
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS IN
SOUTH ASIA
Submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
Day of General Discussion on Violence Against Children
28 September 2001
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
I. INTRODUCTION 4
II. HOW CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY CORPORAL 5
PUNISHMENT
2.1 Risk for the Child’s Physical and Psychological Health 5
2.2 Impact on Retention and Learning Achievements 6
III. LEGAL FRAMEWORK 7
3.1 The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the CRC Committe 7
3.2 National Legislation Against Corporal Punishment in South Asia 8
IV. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS IN SOUTH ASIA 11
V. WHY CORPORALPUNISHMENT IN SOUTH ASIA? 15
5.1 Fixed and Strong Power Relations 15
5.2 The Home Environment 17
5.3 The School System in South Asia 18
VI. ADDRESSING THE ISSUE 22
6.1 Need for Judicial Reform and Child-centred Learning 22
6.2 UNICEF Programme Activities in South Asia 23
VII. THE WAY FORWARD: AN AGENDA FOR UNICEF 25
REFERENCES 27
For further information contact:
Child Protection and Gender Section
UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: + 977 – 1 517 082
E-mail: rosa@unicef.org
3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Corporal punishment is a common phenomenon in the daily life of South Asian children
– at home, in schools, in places of work and in their neighbourhoods. Although very little research exists, testimonies from students, parents and teachers, as well as incidences reported in the media, suggest that corporal punishment is a common problem in many schools in the region. Not only are children physically and psychologically affected by corporal punishment, violence in schools and fear of teachers contributes significantly to children dropping out of school. Some children suffer a greater risk of corporal punishment due to their ethnic, family or class background.
Children with disabilities are also more vulnerable to physical and psychological punishment. Corporal punishment in schools
References: Amnesty International (April 1998). ”Children in South Asia,: Securing their Rights.” AI Index: ASA 04/01/98, Amnesty International, London. Chowdhury, A. M.; Choudhury, R.K and Nath, S. (eds.) (1999). Hope not Complacency. Campaign for Popular Education. The University Press Limited. Bangladesh: CRC (1994), ”Concluding statement to the General Discussion on Child Rights in ------ (1996), ”Summary record of the 303rd meeting: Nepal” 4 June 1996. No CRC/C/SR ------ (1997), ”Rapport Complementaire des Maldives: Maldives” 24 July, No CRC/C/8/Add.37.: Committee on the Rights of the Child, United Nations. Daily Janakantha (15 May 1999). ”Tale of a madrassah which is like a prison: children chained even for slightest offences.” Goonosekere, S. (1998) Children, Law and Justice A South Asian Perspective. Sage Publications Hammarberg, T. and Newell, P. (2000) ’The Right Not to Be Hit’. Children’s Rights, Turning Principles into Practice Haq, M. and Haq, K. (1998). Human Development in South Asia, The University Press Limited Hindu (2 December 2000). Hinduism Today, (July 1998),”Sparing The Child: Should corporal punishment end?” Hindustan Times (9 April 1999). Indian Express, (2 August 1998) Karr-Morse, R Mode (1996). ”Attitudes Study on Elementary Education in India A Consolidated Report”, A Study Sponsored by UNICEF India. Prothom Alo (6 July 1999). ”A teacher indeed.” Sangbad (4 July 1999) SCF-Sweden and EPOCH (1993) ”The Child’s Right to Physical Integrity and the UN Convention”, Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Sue, D.; Sue D.W. and Sue, S. (2000). Understanding Abnormal Behavior. Sixth Edition. 28 Tamrakar and Mishra (1995) ”Social Construction of Violence in schools: Notes from Kathmandu.” UNICEF (2001), --------(1999a). ”Children’s Perceptions of Physical Abuse at Home in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan” --------(1999b). ”Corporal Punishment - A Literature Review of the Situation in Bangladesh,” UNICEF Bangladesh ------- (1998a). ”Corporal Punishment in Primary Schools of North West Frontier Province Pakistan,” NGO’s Coalition on Child Rights – NWFP ------- (1998b). Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. --------(1994). Innocenti Occasional Papers, Child Rights Series. No. 9, Florence, Innocenti. UNICEF and SCF, (2000 ). ”Towards the Future: Child Rights Training,” Nepal UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia and Save the Children South And Interviews with teachers and children in Kathmandu, conducted by UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), 2000.