The Ministry of Education has issued a reminder to the residents of Matuku that corporal punishment is illegal and should not be implemented in schools, including those on the outer islands. During a community meeting at Qalikarua District School in Lau, district education officer Suliasi Vuli emphasized that disciplining students in schools is against national laws.
A villager expressed concerns raised in a recent village meeting about punishing students. Mr. Vuli stated, “When you hold your village meetings, you should focus solely on the issues related to the well-being of the village.” He stressed that discussions in these meetings should not intertwine with school matters and student welfare.
Additionally, Mr. Vuli reminded the school manager and the community members that the Constitution explicitly prohibits any form of physical or emotional punishment of children. He encouraged everyone to protect children by disciplining them with love rather than anger.