corporal punishment Ntsu Secondary

The learner who was allegedly beaten by the principal at Ntsu Secondary in the Free State. Images: Facebook/Bethlehem News spot.

Corporal punishment incident at Bethlehem school being investigated

The principal of Ntsu Secondary School in the Free State allegedly administered corporal punishment on a learner.

corporal punishment Ntsu Secondary

The learner who was allegedly beaten by the principal at Ntsu Secondary in the Free State. Images: Facebook/Bethlehem News spot.

The Free State Department of Education has instituted an investigation into an alleged incident of corporal punishment at Ntsu Secondary School.

The principal allegedly administered the form of punishment at the school in Bethlehem in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District.

ALLEGED CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN FREE STATE

The Free State Department of Education said corporal punishment against any learner is condemned in the harshest possible terms.

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Spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the punishment is banned and may not be used to enforce discipline in schools.

“Principals, educators, learners, parents, and any support staff are required to report the use of corporal punishment following the prescripts contained in the protocol to deal with incidences of corporal punishment in schools.

“Harsh action will be taken against anyone who violates the prohibition on corporal punishment,” Ndaba said.

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The spokesperson said images depicted on various social media platforms indicate that the principal of Ntsu Secondary used corporal punishment to discipline a learner who reportedly failed to comply with the detention sanction conditions at school.

“The form of punishment is a violation of children’s rights, physical integrity, dignity, health, development, and education,” he said.

Ndaba added that corporal punishment does not solve disciplinary problems in a school or any other setting. The department has reportedly commenced an investigation into the incident and will urgently work to establish the facts.

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“The department will continue to promote safety at schools and remind teachers of their responsibilities regarding the administration of discipline in schools.

“School governing bodies are requested to mobilise all stakeholders to play a meaningful role in the abolition of corporal punishment in schools,” he said.

According to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), corporal punishment is a violation of children’s rights to respect for physical integrity and human dignity, health, development, education and freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

SAHRC says the effects of the form of punishment are far-reaching and can cause mental and physical harm to children as well as short- and long-term aggression and antisocial behaviour in learners, even as they mature and increases behavioural problems in children in the long-term and has shown no positive behavioural outcomes.

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