School Leaders Reinforce Regulations Against Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment and humiliating sanctions are prohibited in schools. School leaders have received a circular reminding them of the legal provisions, reporting obligations, and their responsibilities.

In the past year, several complaints have been registered regarding alleged cases of corporal punishment on children. These complaints come from primary, secondary, and specialized institutions. Despite the existence of a strict legal framework, these incidents have prompted authorities to reiterate the conditions.

Current legal texts referenced in the circular include:

Section 14(1) of the Children’s Act 2020: No one may inflict corporal punishment or humiliating sanctions on a child, defined as anyone under the age of 18.
Section 14(2) of the Children’s Act 2020: Such acts constitute a criminal offense punishable by a fine not exceeding Rs 200,000 and imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Section 13(4) of the Education Regulations 1957: No corporal punishment may be inflicted on a student in a school.

Mauritius has also ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates the protection of children against all forms of corporal punishment.

Absolute Prohibition

The circular emphasizes that corporal punishment is prohibited in all educational institutions – Government, Aided, or Private – under all circumstances. This includes curricular and extracurricular activities, sports, outings, field trips, and any activities organized under the school's authority.

Examples of prohibited practices are detailed in the circular to avoid ambiguity:

Hitting, slapping, pinching, pulling hair, tugging ears, shaking, kicking, or scratching;
Forcing a child to remain in painful or degrading positions;
Using insults, threats, mockery, or humiliation;
Any sanction resulting in physical pain, emotional distress, fear, shame, or psychological harm.

Criminal and Disciplinary Sanctions

The circular reminds that, according to Section 14(2) of the Children’s Act 2020, anyone who inflicts corporal punishment commits an offense and is subject to fines and imprisonment. Such acts also constitute a serious fault leading to disciplinary sanctions, regardless of criminal prosecution.

Section 34 of the Children’s Act 2020 imposes a reporting duty: any professional in contact with children must inform the relevant authorities if they have reason to believe that a child is a victim or at risk of harm. In the event of allegations or suspicions, the case must be immediately reported to the Zone Directorates. The school leader must conduct an internal investigation and submit a complete report. If danger is established, the Family Support Services (FSS) of the Ministry of Gender and Family Welfare or the police must also be alerted.

The circular concludes by stressing that school officials must:

Inform all teaching and non-teaching staff of the circular's contents;
Implement non-violent disciplinary measures appropriate for children;
Remind teams of the legal provisions and their individual responsibilities.