Corporal punishment generally refers to the traditional practice in schools of physically punishing students, leading to negative impacts on academic development, emotional health, and their rights as children. Due to the fear of corporal punishment, many students suffer from anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, which sometimes compels them to even drop out of school.
All provinces have enacted child protection laws but unfortunately, implementation remains sparse by educational authorities. The Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa province first prohibited corporal punishment in 2010, and Sindh soon followed in 2011. Punjab and Balochistan also enacted different laws, with the latter approving the Balochistan Child Protection Act of 2016, protecting children from violence, injury, neglect, and exploitation.
Despite these laws, corporal punishment is still an active problem and educational institutes, especially in Balochistan, are not pressed to follow these regulations. This practice is notably carried out in rural areas in the name of discipline and rote memorisation.
Surprisingly, Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan even ensures the right to free compulsory education in a safe environment. But educators believe that physical punishment is necessary to eliminate undesirable habits in children.
If Pakistan want to move forward as a progressive and educated nation, it needs to establish educational strategies, conduct awareness campaign, train educators in remote areas, and eliminate corporal punishment to secure children from violence. A peaceful learning environment is conducive to children who are the backbone of this nation.
Farah Naz Saeed Ahmed
Turbat
