Teachers’ Unions Reject Corporal Punishment Motion

Teachers’ unions BOSETU and BTU have rejected calls to reintroduce corporal punishment, a practice abolished in 2018, warning of legal risks Molepolole North Member of Parliament (MP) Arafat Khan’s motion seeking the reinstatement of corporal punishment in schools as a regulated disciplinary measure has met strong resistance from teachers’ unions, which maintain that the practice is outdated and could expose teachers to litigation. However, the proposal has been rejected by the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) and the Botswana Teachers’ Union (BTU), which say corporal punishment is no longer an appropriate method of disciplining learners. Corporal punishment was abolished in Botswana’s schools after the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government took power, following a resolution by teachers in 2018 calling for the practice to be discontinued.

Reacting to Khan’s motion, BOSETU president Winston Radikolo toldThe Botswana Gazettethat teachers had taken a clear position on the matter and believed government had done the right thing by listening to them and abolishing corporal punishment. Radikolo said the union’s position remained unchanged, arguing that there was no need to reverse the decision to abolish the disciplinary measure. He said instead of returning to corporal punishment, government should strengthen the pastoral system in schools, employ professional counsellors and introduce outreach programmes aimed at addressing behavioural challenges among learners.

Radikolo further warned that reinstating corporal punishment could expose teachers to litigation from parents and students, creating additional challenges for educators in the execution of their duties, as was the case before the practice was abolished. He said teachers should not be placed in a position where disciplinary measures could result in legal action against them, arguing that alternative approaches were needed to deal with indiscipline in schools. BTU spokesperson Kenneth Lonkokile also rejected the proposed return of corporal punishment, describing the practice as outdated.

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Lonkokile argued that bringing back corporal punishment would amount to running away from the responsibility of finding more effective ways of instilling discipline among students. According to Lonkokile, discipline should not be viewed as the sole responsibility of teachers, with parents also having an important role to play in shaping their children’s behaviour and ensuring that they grow up with respect for authority and acceptable social values.

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