Teachers should refrain administering Corporal Punishment

As reports unfold, Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) is once again calling on its members to refrain from inflicting corporal punishment on students.

FTU general secretary Muniappa Goundar said teachers must understand that it was against the law to inflict corporal and hence there was zero tolerance.

His advice comes after three parents within this year complained about teachers at a prominent primary school in Labasa Town inflicting corporal punishment on students.

He said indiscipline and academic failure by students must be addressed through positive reinforcements.

“Inflicting corporal punishment will not do any good to the child but will put teachers in problem,” Mr Goundar said.

FTU also urges parents and guardians to address indiscipline and academic failure of their children at home and should also take time out to visit schools randomly to get feedback from the teachers.

Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) general secretary Muniappa Goundar.

“A partnership in education is the best way forward to curb this problem,” he said.

“The Ministry of Education must also ensure the availability of counsellors in schools to counsel children on discipline issues.”

There is now partnership with Ministry of Education to lift the education standards in Fiji,

So FTU is optimistic that such counselling teams will be available to meet the needs of discipline in schools.

“All in all, FTU will not condone corporal punishment and once again calls on its members to refrain from it to keep their jobs safe,” he said.

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