Corporal punishment is increasingly being challenged as an appropriate disciplinary measure for children, particularly in modern educational settings. Atelini Bai, an experienced educator, voiced her strong opposition to such practices during the Education Bill public consultation held in Lautoka.
Reflecting on her personal experiences with corporal punishment, Bai underscored the need for a shift towards restorative justice approaches in schooling. “I say this with a lot of conviction. I was raised with corporal punishment,” she stated, acknowledging her teaching experiences in schools where such methods were commonplace in the late 1990s to early 2000s. However, she also highlighted a contrasting experience in an environment that embraced restorative justice from 2002 to 2013, where corporal punishment was absent, and students flourished.
Bai further emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of students who are teenage parents, querying the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights about the support systems in place for these individuals. Through her advocacy, she called for a broader consideration of viable alternatives to corporal punishment, urging stakeholders to adopt restorative justice practices that prioritize understanding and rehabilitation over punitive measures.
The growing conversation around the necessity of embracing restorative justice reflects a hopeful trend in educational reform aimed at fostering supportive and nurturing environments where all students can thrive. As the dialogue progresses, it is evident that finding effective and compassionate solutions will play a crucial role in shaping the future of education.