Corporal punishment and school bullying needs to stop

A school principal in Kuwait was recently summoned by the police and made to pledge that students would not be subjected to physical punishment after a young student suffered partial damage to his eardrums from a teacher’s slap.

On returning home, the student informed his parents about the incident and said that he was experiencing severe pain and discomfort in the ear.

His parents immediately rushed him to the local clinic, and when the doctor explained to them the potential medical repercussions of the punishment their child suffered, they decided to file a complaint at the police station. The police swiftly responded to the complaint, which then resulted in the dismissal of the teacher and the rendering of an apology by the school.

Physical punishment in schools has been a persistent and widespread issue in Kuwait for several years, with many parents hesitant to report the matter to the authorities for fear of retaliation by the teacher or the school. Even when parents have filed complaints with the school, there have been reports of school principals either ignoring the issue and forcing parents to seek recourse through the law.

The child protection law in Kuwait guarantees the child all basic rights, including: The right of the child to life, survival, and development in a cohesive and solidarity-based family environment, and to enjoy various preventive measures, such as protection from all forms of violence, harm, or physical, moral, sexual, or other abuses.

Another issue of growing concern to parents with school-going children is the prevalence of bullying in schools. Many parents struggle to address the issue effectively and this has led to serious negative impact on the mental well-being and learning of affected students.

Despite some schools launching anti-bullying campaigns and having a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, this has not deterred school bullies. The thought of their child being bullied in school is a nightmare for many parents who are at odds on how to deal with the issue. The Ministry of Education has now stepped up supervision on private schools who have not seriously addressed these issues in the past.

Sources at the Ministry of Education have stressed that the Kuwaiti law strictly prohibits corporal punishment for any reason in schools.

Parents can file a complaint with several agencies, including the school administration, student affairs, and the school’s educational district.

The source added that the ministry periodically conducts awareness campaigns in schools to raise awareness of the laws and regulations in force in Kuwait. These laws apply equally to all private and public schools in Kuwait. If a parent files a complaint regarding their child being subjected to corporal punishment or bullying, an immediate investigation is launched by the ministry and all necessary measures are taken.

Has your child been subjected to physical harm or abuse in school, or is he or she a victim of bullying? If so, please send us a mail at editor@timeskuwait.com

Meanwhile, a horrendous case of child abuse in a local primary school has alarmed the community and highlighted urgent concerns about child safety in educational institutions.

A teacher was charged with physically and verbally abusing a 9-year-old student, violating Articles 210, 160, 79/2 of the Kuwait Penal Code, and relevant child protection laws (Law No. 21 of 2015, Article 94).

Initially, the court ruled it lacked jurisdiction and referred the case to another court. Upon appeal, the ruling was canceled, and the case reconsidered. The accused was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with labor, with bail set at KD1,000 to suspend the sentence. The civil claims for compensation were referred to the competent civil court.

Both the Public Prosecution (seeking a harsher sentence) and the defense (seeking acquittal) appealed. The appeals were formally accepted but rejected on their merits. The judgment confirming the teacher’s conviction was upheld, relying on strong witness testimony (from school staff, students, and family) and investigation reports.

Evidence showed that the teacher grabbed the student, hit him with a book, pushed him against a wall, and insulted him in front of classmates. The court confirmed the crimes of physical assault, psychological abuse, public insult and misuse of authority as a public employee (Article 56 of Law No. 31/1970).

Recommendations to strengthen protection of students include:

• Establishing legal support units in schools,
• Introducing legal education into school curricula,
• Documenting and penalizing school violence incidents more strictly,
• Empowering social and psychological counseling units to intervene early.

Untreated aggression in childhood risks escalating into adult violence, underscoring the urgent need to eliminate corporal punishment and bullying in schools.