By STAFF REPORTER
11 November 2024- A calamitous parent of a learner at Yarona Early Childhood Learning Centre (ECL) in Nhole village, near Taung, calls on the North West Department of Education to probe the school over corporal punishment allegations.
This comes after startling allegations that learners at the school might be subjected to corporal punishment.
According to a concerned parent, who cannot be named to protect the identity of a minor, his son came back home with wounds on his ears. The child alleged that a certain teacher called Boipelo, pulled him with ears and left him wounded.
“It is disheartening what is happening at that school. This is not the first time my child came back home with wounds on his ears. The same thing happened in August this year, but I kept thinking that maybe it was a mistake.
“However, the same thing happened last week. I called the principal of the school, Mrs Thomas who alleged that the child was not assaulted by a teacher, but by other learners. So, I asked her if they are harbouring bullies at the school and she never had the guts to inform me? However, she could not answer,” he said.
A concerned parent further said, Thomas did not want to account because if learners can beat each other without being reprimanded, then that means the environment is not safe for teaching and learning. He added that some parents that he spoke to, also shared the same sentiments, and alleged that their children were assaulted at some point by the same teacher.
“Corporal punishment has been abolished in schools and what is upsetting is that, I also called the teacher who is accused, but she said learners have a tendency of lying to their parents and alleged that she is the one who assaulted them.
“She also accused parents of being over-protective of their children. I told her that there are so many ways to discipline learners, instead of practising corporal punishment,” he said.
The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said they have launched an investigation over the allegations. Molokwane said as the department, they condemn acts of corporal punishment in schools.
“Corporal punishment has long been abolished and is therefore considered a criminal offense. The Department of Labour Relations will conduct an investigation into the allegations that a teacher applied corporal punishment to a learner at Ya Rona ELC,” he said.
Thomas did not respond to our media inquiry before publishing this article. Her response will be incorporated in the article once received.
Meanwhile, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child said: “The prohibition of corporal punishment in schools has been in place since 1996 with the passage of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996. The Act states that: 1. 2.
“No person may administer corporal punishment at a school to a learner and any person who administers corporal punishment is guilty of an offence, and is liable on conviction to a sentence which could be imposed for assault.”
The organisation said the National Education Policy Act (1996) states that no person shall administer corporal punishment or subject a student to psychological or physical abuse at any educational institution.”
The Guardian 