260 cases of corporal punishment in last year
A teacher beats a pupil at the Umdlamfe Secondary school in KwaZulu-Natal. The teacher has been suspended. A teacher beats a pupil at the Umdlamfe Secondary school in KwaZulu-Natal. The teacher has been suspended.
The council’s findings show corporal punishment topped the list of 593 overall complaints nationally, with cases reported for 2014/15 totalling 209; for 2015/16, 253; and for 2016/17, 265.
Sace spokesperson Themba Ndhlovu said they were conducting research to determine why it was still being used.
“More advocacies are required and training, especially on alternatives available. Some teachers are using them, others still resist effecting a mind change,” he said.
South African Democratic Teachers’ Union deputy provincial secretary Sibongile Kwazi said the issues surrounding corporal punishment were complex, and alternatives were failing and seemingly “punished the pupil and the educator”.
However, the union has urged its members to refrain from using corporal punishment even if “many pupils perpetuate the violence they see within their communities”.
NGO Equal Education spokesperson Mila Kakaza said their own social audit of 244 schools found corporal punishment was a daily occurrence at most schools.
“Learners are beaten at 83% of schools sampled, and at more than 90% of schools with corporal punishment, teachers use some type of weapon.”