Corporal punishment in schools

Disciplinary action or child abuse?

- DR SIRI GALHENAGE, PSYCHIATRIST [RETD]

The proposed amendment to the Penal Code banning corporal punishment in schools, introduced by the Government, has generated considerable public interest. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, has clarified that the proposed law forms part of a broader reform to protect all children across society, and is not intended to target teachers or schools.

These legal reforms arise against a backdrop of growing evidence concerning crimes against children. As reported in The Island (05 October, 2025): "Sri Lanka has witnessed a troubling rise in crimes against children over the past three years, according to a recent National Audit Office Report. Between 2022 and 2024, a total of 8,492 cases including sexual abuse, murder, and exploitation were recorded."

The breakdown of social norms has spilled over into schoolyards, playing fields, and classrooms, bringing into focus the student teacher relationship and the methods some teachers use to address student misbehaviour. However, authorities must not overlook the challenges faced by teachers most of whom act within their professional boundaries, often under difficult conditions such as staff shortages and limited institutional support.

Concern over the safety and wellbeing of children is universal. Since the turn of the 21st century, international attitudes toward physical and emotional abuse both at home and in schools have shifted markedly. This is due to substantial research showing a strong association between corporal punishment during formative years and negative mental health outcomes in adulthood.

The World Health Organisation has called for greater international awareness, investment in evidence-based prevention, alternative disciplinary strategies, and corresponding legal reforms.