By OBAKENG MAJE
A mother of a learner at St Paul High School in Taung called on the North West Department of Education to take appropriate steps against teachers, who use corporal punishment as chastisement when disciplining learners.
Nthabiseng Portia Mate from Lokaleng village near Taung said her son, Otlotleng (13) who is doing Grade 8, was allegedly severely beaten by a teacher, Tiri Maroke and needed medical attention.
“My son came home with fresh wounds on his buttocks. I asked him what happened, and said a teacher had beaten him because there was a commotion between him and other two learners in class.
“So, I visited the school to get more information on what has transpired. I spoke with the teacher and he apologised. He also offered to pay for my son’s medical expenses. However, I will not lay any criminal charge against him,” she said.
The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “We have launched investigations against the teacher. If the allegations are true, then necessary steps will be taken against him. The department has so far registered 15 assault cases across the province for the 2022 calendar.”
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in North West said it condemns the use of corporal punishment in schools. The COSAS president, Thabang Mokoena said corporal punishment has long-term negative effects on learners.
“As COSAS, we are not happy to see that these cases are not resolved, while in most schools corporal punishment is still being practised. This is happening and the department is turning a blind eye. Remember, corporal punishment has been abolished long time ago.
“So, we are saying to the department, we are also fed up. Learners are being beaten in schools and nothing has been done. There are safety summits, which are held year in and year out to discuss such issues, but nothing has changed,” Mokoena said.
He further said what the department is doing is only ‘pep-talk’ with no implementation. Mokoena added that the documents from previous safety summits are archived and continue to gather dust, while learners continue to be subjected to corporal punishment.
“We want to tell the department that we are fed up and enough is enough. There is another burning issue, which is bullying in schools. We have been calling for the implementation of adopt-a-cop policy when speaking about quality learning and teaching.
“We also urged the department to ensure that there are social workers and psychologists in schools to ensure that learners who have issues such as behavioural challenge, involved in gangsterism and bullying other learners get help,” said Mokoena.
He said it is sad to see this happening because violence has a damaging effect on children’s neurological development and may compromise cognitive development.
The Guardian 