6 die of punishment in schools since June

HYDERABAD: Six deaths due to corporal punishment in two and half months across the state is a shocking statistic to reckon with on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. This scourge of education system is also one of the chief reasons for students dropping out from school, said the city-based child rights organization Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham at a press conference here on Sunday.The data collected by the NGO lists Nellore, Karimnagar and Ranga Reddy districts with the highest incidents of corporal punishment and physical abuse being meted out to students. The abuse has even resulted in deaths and grave injuries to students. “The values which a teacher tries to impart must reflect through his own behaviour and personal choices. Many teachers involved in cases of assault on students and other offences are given the Best Teacher award by the government. This is an insult to all those who are performing their duties with earnestness,” said Achyuta Rao, president of the organization. He said that there are many reasons for the growing cases of abuse. “Due to unfair competition that students are subjected to, many parents enrol them in hostels where the children cannot defend themselves against physical abuse.” The NGO also condemned the role of corporate educational institutions in discouraging students from realizing their full potential. “The corporate school setup segregates children into high achievers and the general batch and concentrates on improving the performance of the top 20 students. The rest of the class is often neglected,” Achyuta Rao said.