– Chief Education Officer

CHIEF Education Officer, Olato Sam says corporal punishment is not just a Ministry of Education issue but a national issue that requires the collective understanding of all national institutions and bodies. 

In an interview with the Chief Education Officer on Monday morning he told the Guyana Chronicle: “Corporal punishment is not just a ministry issue but a national issue; consultations were conducted at the highest levels to reveal the views of the public on corporal punishment and the findings showed that most Guyanese are divided on the issue.”
He continued: “There is no general consensus. However it is necessary for Guyana’s leaders to shape and define direction for the best interest of the nation in keeping with the contemporary international system. This issue requires collective understanding.”
In 2012, the Ministry of Education completed a National Consultation on the draft Education Bill 2008, including the issue of prohibiting corporal punishment in schools. By January 2013, a Parliamentary Special Select Committee was appointed to examine the issue and receive representations from civil society.
Throughout the last year the Government of Guyana launched a series of consultations on the abolition of corporal punishment in schools as well as a panel discussion hosted by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.
Earlier this year the consultations revealed that there is no consensus on the issue of abolishing corporal punishment in schools. It is an issue that individuals are either staunchly for or against.
Additionally, a survey by the Ministry of Education on the use of corporal punishment in schools, announced in June 2007, revealed that 53% of schools use corporal punishment and 47% do not. (Guyana progress report: www.endcorporalpunishment.org)

(By Tash Van Doimen)