SWABI: Corporal punishment is common in both public and private educational institutions of the district despite the fact that a ban has been imposed on it by elementary and secondary education department, according to sources.

They said that education department had issued several letters to district education officers (DEOs) about ban on punishment. They said that DEOs dispatched those letters to heads of public sector schools, who got them signed by teachers. “The signed letters are placed in files for record but none of the teachers follows the ban in letter and spirit,” they added.

A secondary school teacher told this scribe on condition of anonymity that students were kept in dark. “During my 25 years teaching, I have never seen a principal or headmaster, who has spoken in the morning assembly about ban on corporal punishment,” he added. A principal also admitted that corporal punishment was banned in both public and private schools across the province. However, he said that situation on ground was totally different.

He added that most of the parents of students were illiterate and did not know about the importance of education.

Official says no complaint registered with dept in this regard

“What I will do when a student fails to do his homework despite various warnings? I have no option but to give him corporal punishment,” said a teacher.

A retired headmaster, who now works in a leading private school, said that the students of ninth and tenth grade were punished to prepare them for board examinations.

He added that students were also fined and their parents were contacted for their poor performance.“I have seen parents, who give a free hand to teachers to punish their children,” he said. Several students told this scribe that they were punished by teachers.

“To avoid the cameras installed cameras in our school, teachers take us to hall and force us to conduct excessive exercises there,” said an 8th grader.

An official, when contacted, said that they did not receive any complaint about corporal punishment. He said that the department would take prompt action against the teacher concerned if such a complaint was received.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2024