Corpun file 16615

The Daily Times, Lahore, 18 September 2005

CS orders schools to cease corporal punishment

Schools' notice boards to display government's message

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Education special secretary (Schools) has directed, on instructions by Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Kamran Rasool, that notice boards be put inside and outside all provincial public and private schools, said an official circular issued on Sunday.

The circular said that the notice boards would be put inside and outside the main gates of all primary, elementary and high schools by September 28. The notice boards would highlight the messages ‘No trouncing but affection' and ‘Corporal punishment in all government and private schools is forbidden by the Punjab government'. The circular added that these boards should be displayed at all private (registered) educational institutions, failing which the registration of the school concerned be would cancelled.

Specially formed government teams would visit schools on September 29 and 30, said the circular. It said that stern action would be taken against institutions not complying with the instructions. “Disciplinary action will be taken against the District Education Department in case of laxity in implementing the orders,” it added.

In case of any corporal punishment complaint, students and parents have been asked to contact the executive district officer (Education) in the district concerned or the Education special secretary (Schools). Reportedly, Rasool has been concerned about the issue of corporal punishment for several months. He issued strict directions repeatedly to stop this punishment in schools. Recently, he directed the Education Department and EDO (Education) of all districts to suspend teachers involved in corporal punishment.

Corpun file 16743

The Daily Times, Lahore, 28 September 2005

CS removes school head for beating student

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool has ordered the compulsory retirement of Mazhar Ali Kazmi, former senior headmaster of Government Malik High School Baghbanpura, for subjecting a student to corporal punishment. The chief secretary said that Kazmi violated the Education Department's restriction on corporal punishment to beat Amir Saleem, a class-8 student, and collected Rs 1,465 in illegal fines.

Mazhar Ali Kazmi had been denied annual increments and transferred from the headmaster's post upon being found guilty, and the fined amount was recovered from him. When a teacher filed a representation with the chief secretary to challenge the punishment, he increased the penalty to compulsory retirement from service under the Removal from Service Ordinance, 2000.