APROPOS the news item ‘Teacher tortures boy for not memorising lesson’ in Lahore Metro (April 22), in which it was reported that a seven-year-old boy in Bahawalnagar was thrashed by a seminary teacher.

Although I studied at one of the best private schools in my town, I was also subjected to corporal punishment, which shows that this practice is not just restricted to madressahs and government schools.

It is now understood that punishment in early life can lead to severe psychological repercussions later on in life. School psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with issues related to children, the school system and school environment, to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviourally and emotionally. But there are probably few teachers in Pakistan who have any idea of this. Instead, this nation is unfortunately run by phateechars who do not know how to run the affairs of the state.

Sayaf Inayat

Kohat

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2017