OYO new issue of its magazine ‘OYO, young, latest and cool’ is now out. This issue deals with the theme ‘discipline and punishment’
It may at first sound strange for OYO to allocate an issue of its magazine to the topic of discipline and punishment. However, we believe everything is linked. A well disciplined child will listen to his or her parents and teachers, will prioritise education over early sex, will not engage in risky behaviour and will not fall prey to peer pressure. We were therefore interested to hear young people’s views on the topic.
This issue has got a very interesting feature: Hon. Nangolo Mbumba, Minister for Education, wrote an article for the magazine! In his article, he condemns corporal punishment in schools as being against the law. ‘The Education Act 16 of 2001 also clearly states that a teacher or any other person employed at a state school/hostel or private school/hostel, commits a misconduct, if he or she, in the performance of his or her official duties, imposes or administers corporal punishment on or to a learner or causes corporal punishment to be imposed on or administered to a learner.’ Says Hon. Mbumba, before adding that ‘Any learner or his or her parents can report the matter to the Education Regional Office or lay a charge against any such employee with the Namibian Police.’
As recently as Friday 07 August 2009, Eastern Cape school principals called on the government of the Republic of South Africa to bring back corporal punishment at schools to ‘restore order’. This is obviously quite shocking, since the reintroduction of corporal punishment would represent a major drawback in terms of human rights in Southern Africa – and if South Africa were to accept such a proposal, other Southern African countries might be incline to follow the example.
We therefore need to all stand up for our rights and make sure corporal punishment is never reintroduced into our schools; while, add Philippe Talavera, editor, ‘at the same time learn to be responsible and well disciplined young people.’ |
