BANGLADESH: Government Circular banning corporal punishment in educational institutions

UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION BY BLAST

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Ministry of Education
Legal Cell
www.moedu.gov.bd

No. 37.031.004.02.00.134.2010                                   Date 24 Srabon 1417
                                                                                  08 August 2010

CIRCULAR

Subject: Regarding the Ending of Corporal Punishment on Students in Educational Institutions.

It has been noted that in some Governmental and non-governmental educational institutions students are being subjected to inhuman and cruel punishments by the teachers for breach of institutional discipline, negligence in studies and other reasons. Such news is often seen in the news media.

It is the duty of a teacher to assist a student to ensure his/her physical and mental development through proper education and to encourage them to become good citizens by acquiring necessary knowledge and skills. Corporal punishment hinders students’ development. As a result, the desired educational outcomes cannot be achieved. Thus the imposition of corporal punishment is totally undesirable.

Given the extreme urgency of taking measures to end corporal punishment in educational institutions without further delay, the following directions have been issued:

1. Corporal punishment is absolutely prohibited in all educational institutions;
2. Inflicting corporal punishment shall be considered to constitute misconduct;
3. District Education Officers and Upazilla Secondary Education Officers shall take effective measures to end corporal punishment; they shall take measures against persons imposing corporal punishment under the Bangladesh Penal Code 1860, the Children Act, 1974 and, where appropriate through initiating departmental action;
4. Heads of educational institutions will take necessary steps in their own institutions to end the imposition of corporal punishment;
5. School management committees shall take steps in their own institutions to identify the teachers who impose corporal punishment and shall take remedial measures in accordance with the rules;
6. Inspectors of the concerned offices, departments and boards of education under the Ministry of Education shall monitor the issue of corporal punishment and shall mention such matters in their inspection reports while inspecting educational institutions.

Signed/-

(Syed Ataur Rahman)

Secretary

For more information:

• Bangladesh bans corporal punishment in schools
  
• Bangladesh orders corporal punishment in schools to be stopped