The outcomes from school parent’s day from some schools in Alebtong and Otuke Districts formed part of the child led ‘Let me Learn and Live with Dignity’ campaign facilitated by War Child Holland. This also included an SMS campaign that ran from 20th Nov: International Children’s day to 10th Dec Human Rights day last year 2011.
The SMS campaign that was led by War Child Holland through Text to Change aimed at getting commitments from key personalities who have the power and mandate to stop the use of physical and emotional punishment in schools and communities. A total of 650 responses and commitments were received from key stakeholders though the SMS campaign: Pader District Local Government committed to discussing in the council meeting, ways of banning corporal punishment in school to making ordinances to deal with general child protection issues. A large number of individuals committed to educating communities on dangers of corporal punishment as well as sharing with them alternative disciplining measures.
During school parent’s days, children in Alebtong and Otuke developed rules and regulations on how they want to be treated with respect and not with humiliation. Examples include; “Do not over punish us by denying us food”, “do not chase us out at night if I have done something wrong”; “teachers do not beat us or use abusive language both in class and outside”; “parents do not send us to shops at night because there is child sacrifice.”
Adults often believe that children do not know what they want or what is best for them they think and decide for them without asking their opinion. Because of this, mistakes have been made including being harsh and cruel to them in the name of discipline. During these school parents day meetings, there were arguments by both parents and teachers that children need to be beaten if they are to be corrected but the majority agreed that this is often over done. There was a general consensus that children can be corrected but using more positive and child friendly methods. Many people were brought up with physical punishment and believe that it is the right way of disciplining children but do you check when it shifts away from being a “form of discipline” to being abuse? Like love and hate, physical and emotional punishment as disciplinary measure and as an abuse are two sides of the same coin. It often becomes difficult to gauge if one is “disciplining” or impinging on a child’s right.
Government of Uganda has made strides in ensuring physical and emotional punishment in schools is banned totally including issuing policy documents, providing alternatives to corporal punishment handbook for teachers and above all being a signatory to the international convention on the rights of a child. All these interventions are highly appreciated but more needs to be done to see these measures are implemented in schools. For example having the act of physical and emotional punishment not just banned in a policy document but ensuring it is implemented by teachers; widely disseminating the handbook and coaching teachers on alternative methods.
Schools are meant to be a safe learning place for children and no child will learn under fear or terror. How would you want to be treated while young and growing up? I personally didn’t like going to school just on the thought of what would be done to me if I made any mistakes. Let’s try and fit in children’s shoes, listen to them and make schools safe and conductive environment where they can learn with dignity. It is therefore our sincere appeal that parents, teachers and everybody out there stops looking at physical and emotional punishment as a disciplining measure because it is an abuse in its self. As children go back to school today, we are hopeful that they will come back home happy individuals, get to love their schools more and learn more while in school.
The writer is a Program Development Advisor with War Child Holland,an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization investing in a peaceful future for children and young people in Uganda
