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The leading children’s rights NGO in Belize issued a press release on 2 March, to welcome the fact that “After a long and arduous advocacy campaign, NOPCAN, along with its allies and supporters and the children of Belize, will soon see the end to corporal punishment in schools.” NOPCAN has spearheaded the campaign against corporal punishment for over two decades and welcomes imminent legal abolition as a significant milestone which “while …not in itself the remedy, … does lay down the framework for children’s dignity to be respected.” It is now over a year since the Belize government passed the new Education Bill but, to the dismay of many, suspended bringing the abolition of corporal punishment section into force for, as the Minister for Education said at the time, a period of not more than six months. Almost a year later, on 14 February 2011, Minister Patrick Faber committed himself to sign this section into law in Education Week 2011, which is the first week of May, to become effective in the classroom at the start of the new school year, in August 2011. During the nineteen months of delay in bringing abolition into force, the current Education Rules 2000 have remained in effect, allowing corporal punishment with limiting, albeit widely-ignored, guidelines. During this time, according to the Ministry of Education, District Education Officers have been required to be on the alert for any cases of corporal punishment which are not within the provisions of the current rules, and to be more vigilant in pursuing reported cases. Disturbing reports of teachers hitting, punching and beating children have indeed continued to emerge from different parts of the country, from primary and high schools, including local and anecdotal reports which do not progress as far as the Ministry. NOPCAN says the day the abolition of corporal punishment comes into effect will be “a wonderful day for our Belizean children and all adults who believe in non-violent methods of education and upbringing …”. But of concern to NOPCAN and others is clause 52(b) of the Act which allows children to be subjected to reasonable force. The Chief Education Officer has clarified that the revisions to the Education Rules will provide details and limitations on this provision. Teacher training is recognised in Belize as essential for the abolition of corporal punishment to be the reality for all children. In a country where up until a year ago sixty percent of all primary school teachers were not adequately trained, including many with no training at all, it will be important to monitor implementation. NOPCAN has urged “the Ministry of Education and all members of the Belize National Teachers’ Union to diligently implement, strengthen and build on the wide-ranging recommendations made by the joint Task Force, to create a positive culture of learning and teaching for all our children … [and] …to set up a robust monitoring and evaluation system, to include mechanisms for seeking and publicising children’s opinions on their experiences after corporal punishment is abolished.” NOPCAN has also offered its expertise and support to the Ministry of Education, Principals, teachers, children and parents to develop a true culture of non-violence in all Belize’s schools. For further information contact Mr Denbigh Yorke, Executive Director, NOPCAN, Belize City, Belize: Tel: 00-501-203-0441 Email: [email protected] Additional Information: