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Tanzanian pupil’s death sparks corporal punishment debate
NAIROBI, Aug 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The recent death of a Tanzanian teenager
who, family-members allege, was accused of stealing and beaten to death by
his teacher has revived the debate on corporal punishment in schools.
Sperius Eradius, a 13-year-old primary school pupil died on 27 August in
the northern Kagera province, a few days after being beaten by a school
teacher who accused him of stealing another teacher’s handbag.
In protest the boy’s parents refused to bury their son until authorities
arrested the teacher and suspended the school principal.
The child’s death has triggered an uproar.
The Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA), a prominent civil society
organisation, on Friday condemned “this cruel and inhumane act” adding that
it hoped “beatings and murders at school will not be repeated”.
The group mentioned another case, in 2016, in which a girl was forced to
remove her underwear before being caned by four teachers in succession. The
girl’s alleged crime was serial absenteeism.
Corporal punishment is allowed under a 1979 law, but with restrictions.
Blows may only be administered by principals, must be focused on the hands
or buttocks with the use of a light and flexible rod, and may only be dealt
out in a “reasonable” manner in the case of serious offences.
“The school is supposed to be a very safe place for students to enjoy their
fundamental right to education,” said Tanzania’s Legal and Human Rights
Centre (LHRC), calling on the government to review the school punishments
regime.
“Severe sanctions should be imposed on teachers who commit criminal acts
against students, to serve as an example,” it added.
Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzania’s minister in charge of “health, community
development, gender, senior and children”, said she was “shocked” by the news
of the boy’s death and ordered an investigation.
“Violence against children is unacceptable,” she said.
In a report last year Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, “Widespread corporal
punishment… often takes brutal and humiliating forms in Tanzanian schools,”
and called on the government to ban the beatings.
BSS/AFP/RY/1655 hrs