Educational institutes: Cell established to counter corporal punishment

Those involved will be jailed, suspended from their jobs

PESHAWAR: In order to prevent corporal punishment at educational institutes, the provincial elementary and secondary education department has established a separate cell to deal with such cases. The body will take immediate action, if required.

In addition, the education department also circulated a toll-free number in all districts so that parents could register their complaints with authorities.

The cell started functioning after a video in which students were beaten up by a teacher in Chitral went viral on social media.

The education department also formed a two-member committee over the matter and the schoolteacher was suspended and put behind bars.

A notification issued by the education department read that an employee or teacher, who was found involved in corporal punishment, would be suspended from their job and would be jailed.

Functionality

The cell is functioning under the elementary and secondary education director, while complaints are received on its toll-free number 0800-33857. The complaint will be submitted to the director and investigated by the district education officer.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, a child rights activist, Imran Takkar, appreciated the provincial government’s initiative and said the elementary and secondary education department established the cell in 2011, but it was non-functional.

He said as per the K-P Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010, any physical or psychological harm to children is unlawful. He maintained that despite the provincial government’s instructions, cases of corporal punishment were reported from time to time.

“If the government wants to prevent such cases, the cell should continue to work and keep track of these cases,” Takkar added. He also suggested the government introduce a separate law on corporal punishment and implement it.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.