Question NW442 to the Minister of Basic Education
25 October 2019 - NW442
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) What (a) number of educators have been found guilty of using corporal punishment to enforce discipline in the classroom (i) in each of the past three school years and (ii) since 1 January 2019 and (b) action was taken against each of the specified educators; (2) Whether (a) her department and/or (b) provincial departments of education provide professional development training to educators on how to discipline learners without using corporal punishment; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what (i) are the relevant details in each case and (ii) number of educators have undergone training since 1 January 2016?
Reply:
- (a) (i) (ii)
Total number of educators who received advisory letters for using corporal punishment by the SACE disciplinary tribunal.
|
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
|
229 advisory letters sent out for corporal punishment |
233 advisory letters sent out for corporal punishment |
194 advisory letters sent out for corporal punishment |
Source: SACE
Advisory letters are letters that are forwarded to an accused educator at the discretion of Council instead of proceeding with a disciplinary hearing against such an educator. These letters are issued in cases of corporal punishment. Once an advisory letter is issued by the SACE and ratified by the Ethics committee, the file is then closed with the proviso that the same educator does not repeat the misconduct. Should the educator repeat the misconduct; disciplinary proceedings get instituted and the file with the advisory letter gets reinstated and prosecuted. Advisory letters are issued only in instances where an educator has already been disciplined by a provincial department of education and a sanction imposed against such an educator by the employer.
(b)
Total number of educators found guilty of applying corporal punishment by the SACE disciplinary tribunal.
|
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
|
07 |
24 |
33 |
RESPONSE TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION 442
The sanctions varied from removal of the names of educators from the roll and which removal was suspended for certain periods with conditions that the educators not be 
found guilty of misconduct during the period of suspension. These educators were further given fines that were to be paid over different timeframes, but not exceeding 12 months. Same educators' names were removed from the roll of educators where severe injuries 
were inflicted upon learners.
(2) (a)
The Department of Basic Education has trained District Safety Coordinators on a Protocol to Deal with Incidences of Corporal Punishment in Schools.
(b) (i) (ii)
The question is more relevant to the provincial administration since it is the responsibility of the employer, who in terms of section 3(1)(b) of the Employment of Educators Act, 76 of 1998, is the Head of the Provincial Education Department, to enforce disciplinary code and procedures against all employees employed at the provincial level.
The question should therefore be forwarded to the relevant employer for details and response.