A study of government policy on the implementation of corporal punishment in selected secondary schools in Mutare Urban.

Abstract

How discipline has been modeled and maintained through corporal punishment among pupils in schools is a controversial issue in the implementation of legal polices from the government. Corporal punishment remains ideal and the order of the day in any academic institution and it had remained an option in the teaching and learning profession and or endeavour. The study focused on the government policy on the implementation of corporal punishment in schools in Mutare urban. The study was based on both quantitative and qualitative research techniques due to the mixed nature of research methods which contend of numerical calculations and qualitative data. A descriptive survey was followed. The population was made of seven high schools in which four schools were selected to make up the sample which was made up of 34 participants. Stratified sampling technique was adopted to group the schools into the groups of the same characteristics which were composed of catholic and government schools. Questionnaires and interviews were employed to collect data from the field. The raw data collected were presented statistically through tables, pie charts and graphs. Research findings brought a consensus that the government policy on corporal punishment was still being violated in schools. The recommendations were made which emphasized on the in servicing of teachers on the disciplining methods which is appropriate to substitute corporal punishment and to raise awareness among others.