Ending corporal punishment in schools to transform education for all children

Schools are meant to be transformative spaces for children to learn and develop. But sadly, vast numbers of children around the world are subjected to violence in education settings, particularly as a disciplinary method. 

Corporal punishment, or violent forms of discipline, is a common practice at schools in many countries, administered by teachers and other staff. Evidence has revealed that this violence has no positive benefits, and is in fact a hindrance to learning – negatively impacting children’s cognitive development, contributing to lower academic achievement, and school dropout. This also carries the risk of long-term harm to mental and physical health and future prospects of individuals, families and societies. 

A new landmark report on school corporal punishment has been released by End Violence in partnership with Safe to Learn and the Coalition for Good Schools. The report explores children’s experiences of school corporal punishment, identifying where action is needed, and describing how progress can be achieved. 

THE SCALE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS

School corporal punishment is still lawful in 63 states worldwide – comprising approximately 793 million children or half of the global school-age population. 

The report highlights the many factors and dynamics that influence the prevalence of corporal punishment. 

It finds that the practice has been prevalent across regions. For example, an analysis of research studies between 1980 and 2017 found that 70 percent of children in Africa and Central America had experienced corporal punishment in schools at least once in their lives. 

Corporal punishment is influenced by gender. Most studies find that boys are more likely to be subjected to school corporal punishment, with male teachers tending to be more violent toward male students. For girls, violent punishment may be used to control behaviour and encourage timidity. LGBTQI students have consistently reported a higher prevalence of violence and bullying in schools. 

Education is of particular importance to marginalised and disadvantaged children, but corporal punishment is often more prevalent in low-resource settings and schools, harming the education prospects of the children who need it most. Children with disabilities, refugees, migrant and racially marginalised children are also disproportionately subjected to violent punishment in school.

Safe schools can provide a protective barrier for continued learning despite a difficult external context such as a humanitarian crisis, giving children access to the knowledge that can lead to increased empowerment and better future opportunities. But sadly, violence reverses these possibilities. 

Research has found an association between experiencing violent punishment in childhood with aggression, anti-social behaviour, perpetration of physical assault and criminality in adulthood. Children subject to corporal punishment in childhood are more likely to use it on their children when they become parents, creating cycles of inter-generational violence.

And this comes at a great cost to society. The World Bank and Safe to Learn investment case reported that the cost of inaction on school violence including corporal punishment amounts to around $11 trillion globally in lost lifetime earnings. Its prevalence combined with its harmful impacts mean that investments in the vital benefits of education for children and societies do not always generate the best possible returns. 

LEGAL REFORM AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION 

The report stresses the importance of effectively implementing law reform. Prohibiting corporal punishment by law sends the clearest message that violent punishment of children is no longer acceptable in society. And legal reform is effective. Many countries with previously high levels of violent punishment in school have now ended or are close to ending the practice, helping transform attitudes to violence against children at scale. 

Alongside laws banning violent punishment in schools, it is also key to put prohibition into practice. Based on evidence and existing solutions, the report draws out best practices to implement law reform, including:

• creating awareness of the law, 
• adopting ‘whole school’ interventions that engage all stakeholders, from teachers to parents to address the issue 
• adopting positive discipline methods and 
• engaging adults and children to challenge harmful norms.