Monday, October 4, 2010

Syria: Stop child abuse and torture by school teachers

A story on France 24 reminded me about the so-called "school corporal punishment" - institutionalized abuse and brutalisation suffered by pupils and school children in the hands of abusive teachers in many parts of the world. The story puts 2 abusive teachers in Syria in the spotlight, and resounds the urgent need to stop child abuse and torture by school teachers in Syria and beyond.

Two female teachers in Syria were caught on video - brutalising pupils entrusted to their care. As you'd expect in this age of information technology, the dramatic video was posted on the  internet and puts the Syria's educational system into question. WATCH...



Incidentally, tomorrow - 5 October - is World's Teacher's Day. Should this calibre of teachers be honored on this symbolic day?

Make no mistake - child abuse and torture by teachers is not only a Syrian problem. The ordeal prevails in many other countries. 

I'm no stranger to school corporal punishment. As a matter of fact, in high school, I was asked to participate in a debate. I vividly remember the debate question: "Should corporal punishment be allowed in boarding schools?" It's worth mentioning that at the time, there were people - students and teachers - who had very strong opinions both for and against corporal punishment.

Widespread occurrence by no means justifies child abuse by school teachers.

The Syrian Arab Republic is party to the Convention of the Rights of the child, which it ratified on 15 July 1993. The State therefore has a legal obligation under international law to protect children from all forms of "physical or mental" violence, including abuse and torture by school teachers. The 2 teachers caught in the above video should, by all means, be identified and brought to justice. Impunity in this widely publicized case would send across a wrong message.

*Photo of school kids in Syria: Gibbz Cadiz.

2 comments:

  1. I must say this was difficult to watch. I got my share of beatings in primary school too, including "pick a pin." But at some point, we have to evolve and find new ways of dealing with these things. I think it goes back to the general issue of respect for human rights and the rule of law with a country. In a country that has both, such an act would be unheard of. So as a global community we must continue to foster the ideal of respecting laws, human rights and fundamental principles of respect for people, especially children.

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  2. Hi,

    These beatings in all Arab countries are real, those kids are not suppose to be beaten by those terrorist teachers, I was one of these kids that was beaten by my teachers, as well as all my classmates, I wish that one day the United Nations will act on these violations, I feel so sorry for these poor kids, they are confused and need real help, I ask GOD to help them and I ask GOD to curse every adult who beat a child, I ask all powers of this universe to curse those who beat any child in this world until the end of their lives, may my prayer be heard.

    I am thinking to start an organization helping these kids as I was one of them, and bring all these adults to justice, I mean real justice.

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