• FDE asks heads of institutions to hold staff meeting for orientation within a week
• Teachers found involved in corporal punishment can face compulsory retirement, dismissal from service

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has directed heads of all institutions to be vigilant against corporal punishment as a stringent law in this regard has been passed by the parliament and has come into force in the capital.

Under the new law, teachers found involved in corporal punishment could face compulsory retirement and dismissal from service.

The FDE, which regulates 423 educational institutions in the capital, through a letter dated Dec 22 directed the heads of institutions to ensure strict compliance with the instructions failing which major penalties may be imposed on the individuals proven guilty.

FDE’s spokesperson Abdul Waheed said: “We will ensure complete implementation of the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act 2021. All heads have been informed about the new law and in case of its violation, the FDE will take action.”

The letter said there were two types of actions - minor and major penalties. The minor penalties included censuring, withholding for a specific period promotion or increment or financial advancement in accordance with the rules or orders pertaining to the service or post. Stoppage from promotion and recovery from pay also falls in the category of minor penalties.

Under major penalties, a teacher found guilty could face demotion to lower post or time scale, compulsory retirement, removal and dismissal from service.

“Keeping in view the seriousness of the matter, it is advised that all heads of institutions must hold a staff meeting for orientation on the Act within one week of issuance of this letter,” read the letter.

Earlier, after approval from parliament, the Act received assent of President Dr Arif Alvi on December 1.

It said: “The child has the right to be shown respect for his personality and individuality and shall not be made subject to corporal punishment or any other humiliating or degrading treatment.”

It added: “Disciplinary measures concerning the child can only be taken in accordance with the child’s dignity and under no circumstances corporal punishments or punishments which relate to the child’s physical and mental development or which may affect the child’s emotional status are allowed.”

While explaining corporal or physical punishment, the Act stated: “Any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort however light it may be which may involve hitting (smacking, slapping, spanking) a child with the hand or with an implement (a whip, stick, belt, shoe, wooden spoon, etc). Also included are kicking, shaking or throwing a child, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling hair or boxing ears. Forcing a child to stay in uncomfortable positions, burning, scalding or forced ingestion, for example, washing a child’s mouth out with soap or forcing him to swallow hot species, including mental abuse.

It says that cognizance of offence under this Act shall be taken by a court of a magistrate upon complaint by the child on whom punishment is inflicted or the parents of such a child or his next of kin. The law will also be implemented in private educational institutions.

It stated: “The federal government shall devise a comprehensive system for the enforcement and monitoring of this Act in private institutions whether registered or unregistered.”

All private institutions shall formulate a complaint system to address corporal punishment.

Pakistan has ratified United Nations Convention on Rights of Child (1989) and in accordance with Article 19 of the convention, the government has committed to taking all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligence treatment, maltreatment or exploitation.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2021