Corporal punishment in schools: Global status and remedial measures

Abstract

Corporal punishment in schools is a global problem but with increasing awareness about its harmful effects many countries have banned the corporal punishment in schools. In India this problem was quite prevalent and accepted by the society as it was considered beneficial for the good education of children and still many people are in favor of it. Now with the media coming in and highlighting the serious problems of corporal punishment, demands have come to ban it totally. But mere banning and making rules & laws does not completely solve the problem. In this paper this problem of corporal punishment has been defined, its prevalence mapped and ill effects of corporal punishment highlighted. Current status of laws and regulations and their utility in India and various parts of the world has been discussed. Measures have been suggested to curb and eradicate the problem of corporal punishment in educational institutions.