The Minister of Secondary Education, Pr. Nalova Lyonga, reminds members of the educational community that corporal punishment of pupils remains prohibited.

The Minister of Secondary education affirms that punishment is frequently reported to her in public and private secondary schools. “This mode of punishment is prohibited in schools in accordance with Article 35 of Law No. 98/004 of 14 April on the orientation of education in Cameroon“, reminds the government official.

This law states that “the physical and moral integrity of students is guaranteed in the education system. Physical abuse and all other forms of violence, discrimination of any kind, the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and drugs are therefore prohibited“. Thus, Minister Nalova Lyonga recalls that “acceptable and appropriate ways of punishing pupils are included in the internal regulations of schools“.

As a result, “sanctions will be taken against schools/teachers who resort to such punishment“.  A high school teacher said that “whipping is forbidden in our schools. Either they copy certain sentences a specified number of times or they stay on their knees. We don’t whip any more“. The contrary was nevertheless observed as few students from the same high school reported to the Principal and parents of having been severely beaten.

The question on an appropriate punishment in schools still stirs debates and controversy as many in the society believe students must be corrected with a whip, meanwhile others  advocate for moral corrections. Either ways, unlike in the past where corporal punishment was a normalcy with little or no say from authorities, today Cameroon Government is combat this practice and restore order.