• Expresses concern that teachers may withdraw from disciplining children 

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) urged the Government to provide some form of a guideline on maintaining discipline in schools, in a context where employing corporal punishment for that purpose is likely to be banned.

CTU President Priyantha Fernando said: “As a Union, we don’t endorse punishment. However, there should be some form of a guideline in order to maintain discipline (among school children) if punishment is not allowed.”

The latest proposed Penal Code Amendment bans both physical and non-physical punishment in schools in order to prevent the emotional suffering caused by corporal punishment.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Fernando explained that the CTU’s concerns are based mainly on the possibility that teachers may withdraw from disciplining school children if it can attract legal action. If the proposed legal amendments are passed, he added, teachers disciplining a student may face arrest and punishment. He added that the requested guidelines should ideally protect teachers disciplining school children from legal action, while still allowing school children to be disciplined at the school level so as to prevent the need to seek action outside school.

At a press briefing held during the weekend, Fernando opined that not being able to employ corporal punishment would pose a challenge to teachers’ efforts in maintaining discipline in schools. He questioned how drug use in schools and sexual abuse among children can be combatted without using corporal punishment.

“The Government should think about the issues that would be created if teachers decide to withdraw from maintaining discipline,” he added.