Minister Nalova Lyonga dangles sanctions over schools meting corporal punishment on students.

The stern warning is contained in a press release signed Monday, January 16.

The release states that schools and teachers who ignore the instruction will be sanctioned accordingly.

The decision comes following an upsurge in the number of cases reported in both government and private schools recently.

In the press release, the Minister of Secondary Education reminded school authorities and teachers that the use of corporal punishment is prohibited as per the guidelines of education in Cameroon.

She went further to disclose that there exist ‘acceptable and appropriate methods of sanctioning’, which she noted, are included in the internal rules and regulations of the different schools.

She added that actions will be taken against head-strong schools and teachers who violate the directives.

“The Minister of Secondary Education informs the entire education community that cases of corporal punishment are frequently reported in both government and private schools”, the release reads.

She reiterated that such a method of punishment is prohibited in the school milieu as stated in article 5 of Law No. 98/004 of 14 April 1998, which lays down guidelines for Education in Cameroon.

“Acceptable and appropriate methods of sanctioning are included in the internal rules and regulations of the different schools” she explained.

“Consequently, the minister informs the education community that sanctions will be applied to schools/teachers that will practise such method of punishing students in schools,” she added.

The use of corporal punishment on students has been common in public and private learning institutions in Cameroon over the years.

Videos of teachers mercilessly torturing students through spanking, slapping and hitting with canes and other objects like machetes, has been flooding social media.   

Corporal punishment is linked to a range of negative outcomes like increased aggression and perpetration of violence as well physical and mental ill-health amongst others. 

Though prohibited by law, the question of whether corporal punishment should or should not be authorised in schools has been a subject of debate.

Three years ago, some teachers pushed for its return due to the rise of indiscipline in schools.

Minister Nalova Lyonga’s decision to ban the use of corporal punishment in public and private schools is the latest action taken towards creating a conducive learning environment for students.   

Earlier last year, the secondary education boss introduced new modalities to manage cases of pregnancy within the school milieu.

She warned against expelling of pregnant girls from schools due to their condition.

She considers the practice discriminatory which caused many students to drop out from schools.

She also insisted that pregnant students must be allowed to pursue their studies until the 26^th week of pregnancy.

The Minister encouraged school administrators to authorise pregnant students to return to school after giving birth.