Bring back corporal punishment in schools, parent urges review team

A concerned parent, Mereseini Rika, proposed that corporal punishment be brought back into schools.

Ms Rika was part of the public consultation on the reviewing of the Education Act 1966 and related laws held at Tavua District School hall on Tuesday.

The increasing “poor behaviour” issues in the homes and in school are of great concern.

“It is very concerning. We have no power to influence changes because of the rights children have. Please include corporal punishment in the Act,” Ms Rika said.

The consultation was chaired by Rokobua Naiyaga with review committee members, Magdalena Ramoala, Lyanne Vauvasi, David Solvalu and Ministry of Education manager policy and research, Metuisela Gauna.

Mr Solvalu, a legal drafter responded to Ms Rika and said that corporal punishment was unconstitutional.

“Section 41 of our Constitution expressly states that children have the right to be free from any form of violence,” he said.

“So it is a constitutional right, and the Constitution is supreme law. It is very hard to change the 2013 Constitution.”

He said that it is important to note that the Denarau Declaration be the road map for education policies into the future.

“For Fiji is very clear about no abuse or violence in schools. So that document shows Government vision for the future, which we are guided by,” Mr Solvalu added.

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