The Beginning of New Thinking within Schools in Tanzania

Written by Lynne Hambury (South Africa) (Originally published on May 2, 2014)

Educational Programs

Trez Hota Nursery is one of many nursery schools in Bahari Beach, Dar es Salaam. Children from the age of just a few months up to 7 years old attend the school. There are three classrooms—one for babies, another for toddlers, and the third for older children between the ages of 5 and 6. Each class has between 8 and 16 children.

At the school’s entrance, a neat array of tiny shoes line the wall—a sight that welcomes guests right away. Once inside, one is greeted with a torrent of little hands, and hugs are freely shared with huge smiles, yelling ‘Teacher!’. These kids are definitely not camera-shy either—they love having their photo taken and then looking at the display screen to laugh at themselves in the photos!

I’m visiting Trez Hota with a volunteer team from Art in Tanzania (AIT), who has come to the school to hold a seminar with the staff about children’s rights within the school system. The topic is sensitive as it includes discussing the replacement of corporal punishment, which is still a general practice (and welcomed by parents) in schools in Tanzania, even though it has been deemed illegal.

Working together with UNICEF Children’s Agenda (CA), AIT’s main focus at this meeting is to introduce the Children’s Agenda and its role in schools to the teachers.

 

Team leader at AIT Volunteering, Danielle Knipping, who is conducting the seminar (with a Swahili translator) in line with The Children’s Agenda’s Investment plan, tells the teachers the important role that they play in a child’s life. They have the opportunity to make a difference in areas such as better hygiene and sanitation practices in schools, early childhood development, which includes social, physical, mental and emotional areas, quality education for all children and making schools safe.

Through the teaching programs that AIT offers, volunteers have had the opportunity to interact with local teachers and students, identifying the challenges faced within the school system in Tanzania. A big issue is class discipline and how to implement a non-corporal punishment environment.

At the meeting, Danielle suggests some non-violent methods of disciplining children to the teachers, such as writing their name on the board as a warning, time-out sessions, short after-school detention, writing lines and visiting the principal’s office. The teachers are receptive and seem to accept and agree with the suggestions, but there is a hint of uncertainty. Then, one of the younger teachers voices that it is challenging to move away from corporal punishment as it is a cultural practice, and parents expect them to use this method if all else fails. Physical discipline is practiced at home and is anticipated at school as well.

This meeting is only the beginning of change. The next step is to meet with the parents so that a consistent method of discipline is practised at home and followed at school.

The staff is eager to be helped – Certain scenarios are given to Danielle for advice, but only so much can be suggested now; another session would be needed to brainstorm different motivational tactics that can be used in the classroom.

The meeting ended well with the volunteers’ idea of creating posters displaying rules regarding sanitation and good conduct for the children to follow. It is decided that more brainstorming sessions will be held with the teachers to think of creative solutions to produce a safer environment, promote children’s rights, and encourage learning and development.

ALL CHILDREN DESERVE THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM VIOLENCE.

Michael Sungu (AIT representative for the Children’s Agenda)

There are other means of discipline besides corporal punishment. Even if sometimes, in the heat of the moment, we do not find or do not look for an alternative response, corporal punishment is never the only solution, nor even a real one. Corporal punishment does not teach right from wrong, it teaches fear and hate. Education and love are constructive ways to teach self-discipline, respect and morality. Children are just young but not stupid – they need reasons, not violence, to become aware when they misbehave. Let’s raise conscious children, not those living with and acting through fear. Please, don’t teach children by hitting them! That won’t do any good. Understand them and talk to them. We should teach children how we expect them to behave when they reach adulthood. It is well known that children who grow up in violent home environments are prone to resort to violence when trying to deal with their problems. Invest to make school safe, that’s what today’s wise societies are breeding. No child should suffer physical punishment from anybody.