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Working with teachers to stop corporal punishment

On 5 October, millions of teachers and education workers are joined by children, young people and parents across the globe to celebrate World Teachers’ Day. From the global economic crisis to recent humanitarian disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan, the role of teachers has been vital to the rebuilding of many communities.

 

Teachers'Day

A teacher and her students in the Philippines

Teachers are key partners of the Learn Without Fear campaign. Plan works with school leaders and teachers to create violence-free schools and promote alternative discipline methods to corporal punishment. Despite the fact that 194 countries have ratified the UN Convention on the Right of the Child, corporal punishment is still legal in 88 countries.

Research conducted by Plan Pakistan shows that corporal punishment is widespread in the country: it is prevalent in 89% of all learning institutions, rising up to 91% in government schools. Punishment not only includes physical violence but also emotional and psychological violence such as insults, name calling and discrimination. Half of them suggested better teaching practices as an alternative to corporal punishment.

Plan Pakistan is working with the Punjab teachers’ association to help change attitudes towards violence in schools. Plan has also been actively involved in developing a child protection amendment bill, which includes anti-corporal punishment measures and is currently pending in the Parliament. The provincial governments of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan have recently banned corporal punishment in all educational settings.

Find out more about World Teachers’ Day

 

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When the school year started, my father refused to provide my school dues. Since I did not have textbooks, I was beaten in front of others and driven away from school for one week. I was very ashamed and thought of leaving school.

Girl, 10 years old, Cameroon