RAJSHAHI, Dec 13, 2017 (BSS) – Speakers at a discussion here today called for stopping physical and mental punishment against children for proper development of their mental health.
They stressed the need for formulating a plan of action to combat all sorts of violence against them everywhere in the society.
The observations came at a view-sharing meeting titled “Elimination of Physical and Mental Punishment against Children and Child Protection: Present Situation and Way Forward” held at Nanking Darbar Hall in the city.
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) organized the meeting discussing ways and means on how to enhance school monitoring, regular DC office meeting and new law enactment relating to elimination of institutional and corporal punishment. Save the Children supported the meeting.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Nasima Khatun, Deputy Director of Department of Secondary and Higher Education Dr Sharmin Ferdous Chowdhury, Teachers Forum President Dr Golam Mawla and BLAST local unit coordinator Shamina Begum addressed the meeting as resource persons. BLAST local president Advocate Nazmus Sadaat chaired the meeting.
During the concept paper presentations, Deputy Director (Advocacy and Communication) of BLAST Mahbuba Akter and Senior Manager (Child Protection) of Save the Children Firojul Islam Milon narrated the aspects of combating punishment against children.
The discussants noted that collective effort is needed to stop any physical and mental punishment against children in educational institutions.
They told the meeting that the ministry of education has promulgated circular banning physical and mental punishment against children in the educational institutions. There is no alternative but to transform the educational institutions into a place of amusement to the students, they added.