President Duma Boko has expressed concern over the persistent use of corporal punishment in schools saying there are other ways to discipline learners.
Speaking at a kgotla meeting in Tutume on Friday, he noted that children are attentive and responsive when given clear explanations that help them understand the meaning and purpose behind assigned tasks. According to the President, parents and teachers are sometimes overwhelmed by anger, which leads them to resort to corporal punishment in situations that could have been resolved in a different manner. “Applying corporal punishment without explanation or teaching children to understand their responsibilities only causes them to neglect those duties,” Boko told the gathering.
XThe President, who has been unapologetic about leading a human rights-led government, shared his personal experience from his internship at Monwane, a hamlet in the Kweneng District Council. During his stay there, he observed children walking approximately six kilometres to school, only to be met by a headmaster who would punish them physically for arriving late. Recognising the injustice, Boko requested to take over the disciplinary duties from the deputy headmaster. Instead of punishing the children, he greeted and hugged them, encouraging them to proceed to their classrooms. “Children respond to kindness,” he remarked. The President warned that punishing children out of anger and through corporal means may turn them into violent adults because they tend to imitate their upbringing. “This cycle perpetuates gender-based violence from an early age,” he explained, underscoring the urgent need for more compassionate and constructive disciplinary strategies. Boko’s remarks were sparked by a comment from the Tutume District Child Forum chairperson, Katlego Liso, who told the President that learners are concerned over the persistent use of corporal punishment in schools within their district, despite its official abolition. “We are therefore advocating for the strict enforcement of policies designed to protect children from physical and emotional harm,” Liso had argued.
“We believe that corporal punishment is neither an effective nor an acceptable form of discipline; rather, guidance and support are essential for children to thrive.” She further advocated for the adoption of restorative justice and the cultivation of emotional intelligence, suggesting that these approaches could be successfully implemented through investment in teacher training and evidence-based disciplinary methods. “By doing so, we can create a safe and supportive learning environment that enhances both academic excellence and social responsibility,” Liso added.
Meanwhile, the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) and Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) have long resolved that their members should cease employing corporal punishment on students. BOSETU secretary-general, Tobokani Rari, said this was after they realised that the government had lifted the veil on the teachers, leaving their members exposed to lawsuits. “We will continue to appeal to our members to protect themselves and comply because it is clear that the veil has been lifted. “BOSETU decided on the issue during the 2022 congress against the backdrop of cases against some of the teachers who were taken to court by the government. “We have advised them to resort to other ways of trying to instil discipline. What happens thereafter, we don’t care. Our concern is the welfare of our members and their conditions of service. Government will have to worry about how it addresses the issue of indiscipline and misbehaviour,” he added.
Rari said the indiscipline in schools was due to the collapse of Guidance and Counselling systems in schools. He urged government to concentrate on reviving the Guidance and Counselling system, which he says will assist in modifying students’ behavioural disorders in schools.
