Change mindset to stop corporal punishment

Speakers at a national workshop has urged teachers to change their mindset towards students and teach them in an edutainment atmosphere, shunning the old practice of corporal punishment.
Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST), Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK) and Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) jointly orgainsed the workshop tilted 'Putting an end to corporal punishment in educational institutions' at Biam auditorium in the city recently.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, educationist Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Dhaka University Psychology department professor Dr Mehtab Khanom and Director General of Directorate of Primary Education Shyamal Kanti Ghosh spoke at the programme.
Honorary Executive Director of BLAST Barrister Sara Hossain and Save the Children Manager Luthfal Kabir also spoke at the workshop, moderated and chaired by CAMPE Executive Director Rasheda K Choudhury.
On January 13, 2010, the High Court in a verdict declared corporal punishment unconstitutional and violation of human rights following a writ petition filed by BLAST and ASK.
Speaking at the workshop, Nurul Islam Nahid said a law based on the directions of the High Court verdict in this regard would be enacted.
He said action will be taken against those who are accused of engaging in corporal punishment.
Educationist Zafar Iqbal suggested setting up a hotline to know the incident of corporal punishment instantly from the victim students and punish the teachers responsible. He also emphasised building awareness among the teachers in this regard.
Mental torture is more dangerous than physical one, said Dr Mehtab Khanom underscoring the need for development of children's human qualities showing a positive mentality.
Shyamal Kanti Ghosh stressed the need for imparting training to teachers under the syllabus of PTI, involvement of local administration and creating awareness among school management committees and guardians to end corporal punishment.
Chief Coordinator of National Front of Teachers and Employees Kazi Faruk Ahmed suggested inclusion of provision of punishment of teachers in the service rules to stop corporal punishment in schools.
In his keynote paper, Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Justice M Iman Ali suggested providing proper training to the teachers to stop corporal punishment.