/ 7 August 2009

E Cape teachers call for corporal punishment

Eastern Cape principals on Friday called on the government to reinstate corporal punishment in schools to deal with pupils’ delinquency.

”We would like government to consider bringing back corporal punishment in schools to restore order,” said Mandla Sibikwe.

Sibikwe represented Eastern Cape schools principals during an interaction with President Jacob Zuma at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

The conference was aimed at giving school principals an opportunity to tell the president of problems affecting their schools. Sibikwe received a round of applause when he raised the issue of corporal punishment.

Corporal punishment is unlawful in schools and other education institutions under the South African Schools Act.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande, and education ministers from all the provinces were attending the conference.

Sibikwe also told Zuma that his province had a lot of schools built from mud and pupils learning under trees.

Other school principals told the president that schools were no longer safe because of drug abuse and criminals who easily entered school premises. They urged Zuma to ensure that all schools had security guards.

A representative from Gauteng told Zuma that pupils did not have good transport in Gauteng. He said pupils were using unroadworthy taxis and that they used crowded buses.

A representative from Mpumalanga called on Zuma to ensure that the province had its own university. Mpumalanga and Northern Cape were the only provinces which did not have universities. — Sapa