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Let’s move beyond student torture
November 25, 2011
Forty-five to fifty thousand children leave studies every year in Pakistan for fear of torture. The Society for Empowering and Human Resource “SEHR”, an NGO, organized a 19-day campaign against the torture of students. The campaign continued from 1st November through 19th November to create a democratic society free from the evils of torture.
The campaign started after several persons from different walks of life took oath to not inflict any type of torture on children in future and to try to discourage its further expansion in the society. Various events were organized to highlight the motive of saving children from torture and beating in classrooms. The era of torment must come to an end while love could boost their abilities and can help them use their skills in a better way.
Director SEHR Abdul Wadood said that teacher’s beating had become a ritual. In Pakistan, it is thought that only physical torture can help children to succeed in all walks of life. The respective method is still in practice in Pakistan and considered to be the only method for success. He added that if torture’s effect doesn’t become visible instantly then its negative effects become visible upon his personality with the passage of time. These often shape into psychological changes that remain with him/her the whole life.
The implementation of a notification issued by the Balochistan government against student torture has got delayed. A formal draft was created to curb this practice and after discussions with the provincial educational department it was decided to completely ban the torture of students but the notification is yet to be issued. Abdul Wadood said they were making laws to completely restrict teachers. Soon the bill would be presented in the Balochistan Assembly for review and later on it would be shaped into a law.
Provincial Secretary Education Munir Ahmed Badini said he was personally interested in making the law that children must not be tormented in schools or colleges. “We accept all recommendations of the respective NGO dispatched to us regarding the matter. We have banned any such type of act in all educational institutions of Balochistan after receiving the NGO’s directional documents. Teachers were directed to leave the customary beating practice and try to impart love among children in order to improve student’s abilities in the real sense.”
One of the responsible men of NGO Hafiz Rehman said the campaign was intended to discourage the ever-increasing torture and abuse of children. He said efforts of few NGOs wouldn’t bring a positive change in the entire society.
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