Reducing the physical and mental burden on school children and banning of corporal punishment by teachers
The Commission, on 23 July 2002, convened a meeting to discuss ways and means of reducing the physical and mental burden on school children and banning corporal punishment by teachers in schools. The meeting was chaired by Justice J.S. Verma, Chairperson, NHRC and attended by the Secretary and Joint Secretary, Department of Elementary Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India; the Additional Secretary and Deputy Education Advisor of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India; Director, NCERT; Chairman, CBSE; Director and Additional Directors of the Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi and the Secretary General, Joint Secretary and other senior officers of the Commission.
The Commission’s attention was drawn to this problem by an appeal from the parents of some school children. The Commission had also considered media reports regarding the violation of rights of children in schools.
In the meeting, the Chairperson focused on various problems faced by school children including the burden of a heavy curriculum, the load of textbook-based holiday homework, corporal punishment and the six-day week in schools. He emphasized the child’s basic right to all round development and related that the Commission was looking for a solution to these problems in a manner which was both acceptable and implementable.
A detailed discussion was held, following which the Chairperson urged the participants to give more attention to these issues and called for reports on the views of participants and the action being taken by them.
The meeting also considered the role of non-governmental organizations in making the education system less burdensome and more meaningful. It was felt that reputed NGOs, working in the field of elementary education, could be involved in the process of consultation.
It was also emphasized that the inputs from the students themselves were necessary to make the process thus worthwhile. In this regard, the Director, NCERT offered to organize an interaction of the Chairperson with students and teachers of the four Demonstration Schools being run under the aegis of the Regional Institutes of NCERT.
The Commission intends to pursue this matter.
The Commission’s attention was drawn to this problem by an appeal from the parents of some school children. The Commission had also considered media reports regarding the violation of rights of children in schools.
In the meeting, the Chairperson focused on various problems faced by school children including the burden of a heavy curriculum, the load of textbook-based holiday homework, corporal punishment and the six-day week in schools. He emphasized the child’s basic right to all round development and related that the Commission was looking for a solution to these problems in a manner which was both acceptable and implementable.
A detailed discussion was held, following which the Chairperson urged the participants to give more attention to these issues and called for reports on the views of participants and the action being taken by them.
The meeting also considered the role of non-governmental organizations in making the education system less burdensome and more meaningful. It was felt that reputed NGOs, working in the field of elementary education, could be involved in the process of consultation.
It was also emphasized that the inputs from the students themselves were necessary to make the process thus worthwhile. In this regard, the Director, NCERT offered to organize an interaction of the Chairperson with students and teachers of the four Demonstration Schools being run under the aegis of the Regional Institutes of NCERT.
The Commission intends to pursue this matter.