Corpun file 5338
Africa News Online, 3 March 2000
Education and Religion
Tanzania May Stop Corporate [sic] Punishment In Schools
TOMRIC Agency
Dar Es Salaam - The Government has called upon researchers and experts to search on possibilities to be adopted as means of substituting corporate [sic] punishment in schools in disciplining students in Tanzania.
In line with the call, the government has also launched the national campaign against corporate punishment.
According to Ms Mary Nagu, Minister for Community Development, Women Affairs and Children her ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and local Children's Rights Centre, Kuleana, will coordinate collection views from various groups on alternatives for corporate punishment on children.
Corporate punishment is applicable not only in disciplining children at home, but also in both primary and secondary schools including some higher learning institutions, especially teaching colleges.
It was not established to when corporate punishment would be ceased, but Nagu said the ministry would work on the issue and take required measures in a near future. Corporate punishment, says Mr. Alphonce Mutaboyerwa Director of Kuleana, impacts children psychologically to the extent that they are forced to live as street children. Other effects include lose hope, make them rude and humiliates children to the extent of dropping their studies.
The UNICEF Representative in Tanzania, Mr. Bjorn Ljungqvist, says corporate punishment has been a major hindrance of children studying and creates hatred, fear and undermines the possibility of gaining support and respect from their fellows.
Tanzania was a signatory to the United Nations Convention of 1979 which suggests on other ways to discipline a child, other than the stroke cane [sic].
Article 28(2) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that governments shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child's human dignity and in conformity with the convention.
Copyright © 2000 TOMRIC Agency. Distributed via Africa News Online.
