Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has reaffirmed that corporal punishment will not be permitted in Fiji’s educational institutions. Emphasizing the importance of adhering to both the Constitution and international laws that safeguard children from violence, he made these statements at the 27th Attorney-General’s Conference held in Nadi.
Radrodro highlighted that this matter transcends policy concerns, touching upon legal obligations that the Ministry of Education must uphold. He shared data indicating that reported cases of corporal punishment in schools have varied over the years, with a notable peak of 84 cases recorded in 2022, compared to just 7 cases in 2020. The majority of incidents involved students being struck with hands or a cane. Furthermore, from January to October of this year, 11 cases of corporal punishment were reported through the Divisional Counselling Hubs and the Student Support Services and Advisory Council, primarily from the Eastern, Western, and Central Hubs.
The Minister referenced the significant 2003 Naushad Ali court ruling which deemed corporal punishment illegal, alongside the 2013 Constitution that ensures every child’s right to be free from violence. He pointed out Fiji’s commitments to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which expressly prohibits physical punishment in educational settings.
In his remarks, Radrodro noted that the Child Care and Protection Act 2024 has eliminated all legal justifications for what was previously labeled “reasonable punishment.” The forthcoming draft Education Bill 2025 will further explicitly ban corporal punishment and any cruel or degrading treatment of students.
Acknowledging the concerns of some teachers and parents advocating for the reintroduction of corporal punishment, Radrodro recognized that educators are facing significant behavioral issues, including swearing and threats. Interestingly, recent public consultations revealed that more than half of participants supported the return of corporal punishment with parental consent. Yet, the Minister maintained that the Ministry must consistently uphold the law.
To support schools in managing student behavior, Radrodro outlined several initiatives, including the establishment of counselling hubs across all four divisions, a mandate in the draft Education Bill for schools to hire trained counselors, the reintegration of school chaplains, and a review of the Behavioral Management Policy aimed at fostering positive discipline techniques. He is also calling on legal entities to contribute to the public consultations regarding the Education Bill, fostering a collaborative approach to these vital discussions.
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