Guwahati: A recent academic study has revealed that corporal punishment remains widespread in schools in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district, despite being legally banned under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
The findings raise serious concerns about children’s safety, mental health, and the failure of enforcement mechanisms.
The study, published in 2025 in the International Journal of Environmental Sciences, examines teachers’ perceptions and students’ experiences across public and private schools in the Shankardev cluster of Lahoal block.
The study, conducted by Monalisa Khanikar under the supervision of Baloy Bhattacharjee, surveyed 250 students and teachers from 25 schools using questionnaires, interviews, and Likert-scale analysis.
The findings indicate a concerning trend, with nearly 95 per cent of students reporting experiences of corporal punishment, ranging from caning and slapping to forced physical drills and public humiliation.
According to the study, Assam reported one of the highest incidences of corporal punishment in the country, with 99.56 per cent of children acknowledging its presence in schools — significantly higher than the national average.
Mizoram followed closely at 90.86 per cent, while states such as Rajasthan reported lower figures, highlighting sharp regional disparities.
The impact on children is severe and multidimensional, the study notes. Students subjected to physical punishment showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, fear, low self-esteem, and disengagement from learning. Academically, such children were more likely to perform poorly, develop behavioural issues, and face an increased risk of dropping out of school altogether.
The study also challenges the justification often offered by educators. While many teachers argued that corporal punishment is necessary to maintain discipline in overcrowded classrooms with limited resources, the study found that such practices damage teacher–student relationships and create a culture of fear rather than trust.
Despite clear legal prohibitions, implementation remains weak. The absence of strict monitoring, a lack of teacher training in positive discipline, and social acceptance of physical punishment have allowed the practice to persist, the researchers observed.
The study strongly recommends urgent reforms, including regular inspections, awareness programmes for parents and teachers, a reduction in teacher workload, improved teacher–student ratios, and compulsory training in non-violent classroom management. It also calls for greater student participation in school decision-making to create safer and more inclusive learning environments.
The findings underscore ongoing concerns about the use of corporal punishment and its implications for children’s dignity and mental well-being.
Amid renewed debates on school safety following the death of a Class VIII student this week, allegedly linked to corporal punishment by a teacher in a private school in neighbouring Tinsukia district, the study contributes additional evidence indicating the need for review and action by education authorities.