Latest update April 11th, 2025 6:13 AM
Berbice PTAs want “full force” of corporal punishment in schools
Berbice Parent-teachers’ Associations (PTAs) are calling for corporal punishment to be administered in “full force” in all schools. They believe “licks” is the only means of restoring discipline in the education system and society.
Corporal punishment is part of Guyana’s education system but is only administered by the Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher and Senior Masters or Senior Mistresses.
Attendees of the consultation
Attendees at the consultation held at New Amsterdam Secondary School, on Wednesday, want every teacher to be equipped with the “power” to administer corporal punishment.
The consultation, which was the first of a series planned by the Education Ministry, will help to determine the future of corporal punishment in schools. It was led by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, and other education officials.
Though the parents were pro-corporal punishment they emphasized that students should not be abused, as in the case of a Grade One Mibicuri student.
According to the student’s grandmother, about a week ago the child was badly beaten by his teacher. Marks were still visible on his once swollen feet. Even with that incident the woman recommended that corporal punishment should be heightened in schools but not at an abusive level.
Representatives of various PTAs emphasized that students have become wayward owing to a breakdown of discipline in the school system. They emphasized that students are disrespectful towards teachers because “they know teachers can’t beat them.”
“We have taken God and discipline out of the school system…Now we have gangs in schools…We need a better nation…We are not talking about abuse but discipline,” the parents stated.
The parents said that during their schooldays they received lashes for bad behaviour and nothing terrible happened to them. They opined that in today’s society students are capitalizing on the fact they cannot be disciplined by the rod. As such, students are rude and reckless and are performing poorly in school.
However, students are opposing this view and calling for the total abolition of corporal punishment in schools.
According to the President of the New Amsterdam Secondary School Student Body, a survey carried out Wednesday morning among the school’s population present showed that 75 percent of students are against corporal punishment.
It was noted that the New Amsterdam Secondary School follows the Protocol for Safe Schools which provides alternative means of punishments for delinquent students. The students view corporal punishment as abusive.
Some education officials are supportive of the students’ views. They noted that some of the parents who are advocating the “full force” of corporal punishment would not like their children to be beaten.
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