Urgently Review South Africa's Basic Education Corporal Punishments Policy

As teachers, we are on the frontline of our education system. We see firsthand the great weight and responsibility we carry; molding the minds of our young citizens. However, with the abolition of corporal punishment in our schools, it feels quite like our hands have been tied. The department, while deciding to cease corporal punishment, did not replace it with an alternative, effective way to discipline ill-disciplined learners. As a result, managing classroom behavior has become a mounting challenge without any clear guidelines.

A teacher's role involves more than merely imparting knowledge; we are tasked with motivating, disciplining, and sometimes even counseling our students. However, with the current policy in place, managing unruly learners has become heartbreakingly difficult. It is a growing concern that learners disrespect the teachers, and there's no corrective action that a teacher can responsibly enforce without fearing punishment themselves.

In such scenarios, it becomes next to impossible for us to fulfill our duties and responsibilities effectively. It is not about reinstating corporal punishment, but there should be guidelines to manage behaviors that disrupt the learning environment. It is a cry for an educational environment that assures safety, respect, and discipline for both the teacher and the learner.

The absence of proper policy documents and regulations that would protect the rights of both the teachers and the learners in South Africa, specifically in scenarios involving discipline, is a gaping void needing urgent attention. We, therefore, urge the Minister of Basic Education to review and revise the current policies related to discipline in schools.

Sign this petition and join us in this fight for a balanced and loving educational environment that both our learners and teachers deserve.

South Africa    Contact the author of the petition