REINTRODUCING corporal punishment in schools is illegal.
And unless the court orders for a revise in these laws then the Ministry of Education will take appropriate action.
Minister for Education, Filipe Bole made these comments in response to calls to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools to discipline students.
He also warned people to refrain from discussions such an idea because it was against the law. Some teachers and parents in Suva had publicly raised their concerns after brawls between several students of Marist Brother s' High School, Suva Grammar School, Cathedral Secondary School, Nabua Secondary and the recent incident where a Nasinu Secondary School student was admitted in hospital after he was beaten up by some students at his home on Wednesday night.
Mr Bole said they would only make necessary changes upon a court order. "Parents need to play their role too and discipline their children," Mr Bole said.
He said children portrayed the image of their parents therefore the ball was in their court to ensure that their child performed well in all aspects in schools. "We do not want people being arrested for breaking these laws," Mr Bole said.
A school teacher of Deenbandhu Memorial School in Suva, Shynil Chand said they could not do much now because secondary school students had abused their rights.