More than half of pupils received CP in six-month period

Corporal punishment in public [state-controlled] schools in South Africa continues despite legislation prohibiting its use, with boys as its main targets, a study finds in 2021.

Corporal punishment still prevalent in schools

CORPORAL punishment in public [state-controlled] schools in South Africa continues despite legislation prohibiting its use, with boys as its main targets, a new study has found.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)’s Gender and Health Research Unit and Wits University’s School of Public Health published a study on Plos One last week on the prevalence and factors associated with the experience of corporal punishment in public schools.

For the study, about 3,743 Grade 8 pupils (2,118 girls and 1,625 boys) from 24 selected public schools in Tshwane were surveyed in 2014.

The study revealed a high prevalence of corporal punishment at schools, as more than half (52%) of the pupils reported receiving corporal punishment in the past six months.

“The findings of this study highlight a slightly higher prevalence compared to that found in a national study (49.8%) in 2012, and confirm that corporal punishment of learners in public schools persists, despite it being outlawed over 20 years ago,” the study said. Boys were more likely to experience corporal punishment.

The study said that with lack of support from the parent or caregiver and the teacher, boys were more likely to perform poorly at school and this attracted corporal punishment.

“Experience of school corporal punishment among boys could be aimed at correcting their behaviour, based on the belief that physical punishment is effective in correcting deviant behaviour of children,” it said.

The team, led by Pinky Mahlangu from the SAMRC, said the risk factors associated with pupil experience of corporal punishment included the pupil’s behaviour, home environment, school climate and other factors, including the family’s socio-economic status and pupil’s mental health.

“For learners, irrespective of gender, school environment (caregiver’s attitude towards school work, learner’s perception of teacher behaviour and learner bullying score) has a direct association with learner experience of corporal punishment,” the study states.

The data showed a pupil’s home environment (exposure to physical violence, neglect and lack of caregiver kindness and support) had an indirect relationship with the experience of corporal punishment at school.

“The lack of caregiver support, and experience of neglect can contribute to misbehaviour which attracts corporal punishment at home and school,” the study said.

The researchers said there was an urgent need to break this cycle of violence by enforcing the law and holding accountable those who continue to use corporal punishment.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Global Report by Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, on prohibiting all corporal punishment of children, said more than a billion children worldwide experienced violence every year . The researchers said Covid-19 had increased children’s risk of violence in every country.

As published in The Mercury, 18 August 2021.

Picture credit: Sting Pictures

Traditional School Discipline

Traditionalschooldiscipline@gmail.com