The proverb which says “spare the rod and spoil the child” is one which is still very pertinent, relevant and needful to enforce to ensure the smooth running of classes and schools .However, it is also true that these days things seem to have taken a different turn thus affecting teachers, pupils as well as education in general.

It is reported that there is an increasing number of parents calling at schools to complain against corporal punishment even in cases of very light sentences inflicted with a view to correcting certain undesirable aspects of the behaviour of their wards for their own good and benefit. The ministry has itself issued a circular on corporal punishment which it must be admitted is a strong deterrent against the same issue in schools and the reality today is that a large number of teachers have been constrained to reduce the use of the stick to a strict minimum. Teachers and even head-teachers do not disagree or contest the abolition of corporal punishment but what seems to be giving serious cause for concern is the increasing level of indiscipline in schools. It will not be an exaggeration to say that this matter has become a major problem these days in many of our schools. It will be perhaps astounding to note that in certain primary schools teachers have suffered from assault by pupils. What is unbelievable is that in one school one member of staff confided that pupils were seen manipulating their sex organs in classrooms, not heeding the teacher or even girls. Teachers have reported such kinds of dreadful and appalling behaviour on the part of pupils in their classes.

In primary schools it is teachers as well as head-teachers who have to bear the brunt of indiscipline on the part of pupils of higher classes. Recently it was reported that one pupil went to the extent of using foul and filthy language against one head teacher. Such cases are normally reported to the authorities and it is usually expected that the pupils concerned should receive special treatment from school psychologists or other specialists. In most cases the treatment meted out to them does not solve the problems and what is most deplorable is that so far no follow-up is ensured in such cases which means that no viable solutions are found to the problems. It is a fact that parents are allowed much latitude by the authorities in the running of schools and their influence seems to be ever increasing. At the same time we know that it is common practice now to refer cases of corporal punishment to the Child Protection Unit and subsequently to the police. Nobody contests this procedure especially taking into account the fact that government has ratified the UN convention on the rights of the child. What matters these days is the need to ensure that the measures taken for the protection of children do not reduce the scope of the enforcement and the respect of discipline in schools. This is a serious matter that warrants the attention of all partners in education in our society.

Indiscipline and aggressive behaviour of pupils these days have assumed such an alarming proportion in schools that it is felt that it is high time for the authorities to start finding immediate solutions for them. At the same time it may also be worth mentioning that there have been many cases where teachers or other members of teaching staff have been assaulted by parents themselves. In schools there is the strong feeling that the present state of indiscipline and insecurity is the result of the attitude of politicians to parents. It is felt that demands made by parents cannot be turned down and that they are acceded to just to protect vote banks. This is one of the major reasons which has created the present mess in schools.

Certainly cases of unjustified or exaggerated punishments need to be enquired into and should entail necessary follow-up actions; however, the facts remains that the tasks of teachers and managers of schools is becoming more and more complex these days. We are given to understand that certain countries have already taken remedial actions in the same connection in the wide interests of children themselves. Let us hope that in Mauritius the authorities will take a fresh look at this issue and not allow the present state of things to last for too long.

Head teacher</B>