Students being abused in schools
Farhan Tajwar Shafin :
According to Article 35(5) of the Bangladeshi Constitution, everyone has the right to be free from torture and other cruel, inhumane, or humiliating treatment or punishment. It ensures the defense of this right and gives the judiciary the authority to hold offenders accountable for violations of Bangladesh’s penal code with efficient remedies. According to Sections 330 and 331 of the Penal Code of 1860, respectively, “voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession” and “voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession.” These rules are intended to forbid using coercion of any kind, physical or psychological, to force people to make confessions. Although the Bangladeshi Code of Criminal Procedure does not define torture specifically, it does contain rules that protect the rights of those who have been detained and those who are being held in custody. These rules are intended to stop torture and other cruel treatment when people are detained, arrested, and questioned.
The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013, is the primary source for Bangladesh’s legal definition of torture. The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013, states that “torture” is the deliberate inflicting of great bodily or mental pain or suffering by a public servant, anyone acting in an official position, or at the initiative, permission, or acquiescence of a public servant. It also covers actions taken with the aim of learning something, getting a confession, or for any other reason. The statute states that acts like severe beatings, electric shocks, burns, sexual abuse, psychological intimidation, withholding of food or drink, and exposure to extreme temperatures or circumstances may constitute torture, although these are not the only ones.
Violence is defined widely in various legal contexts to include a variety of acts, such as physical assault, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and homicide. Psychological or emotional violence, such as threats or intimidation, may also be covered by legal definitions. Legal definitions may take into account elements including the extent of injury caused, the offender’s purpose, and the connection between the victim and the perpetrator. The intensity and repercussions of violent behavior can vary greatly. It’s crucial to remember that while violence is frequently connected to criminal activity, it may also manifest in a variety of different contexts, such as the workplace, schools, and other places.
The overall number of educational institutions is more than 36710, according to the Bangladesh Education Statistics for 2021. Furthermore, more of them attend primary and higher secondary schools. Many students attend the institutions to study. Are they secure in these locations? Only after some of the recent occurrences can this be fully appreciated.
An incident happened on February 15 this year when a teacher beat up ten students for not wearing school dresses in Dinajpur Sadar Upazila, which went viral on social media. Students attend school to learn from their teachers for a brighter future. They learn how to take on problems and do good things, which allows them to significantly impact society, but how can guardians rely on them if instances like the Dinajpur episode occur? Because of the school violence, the majority of students drop out. In this sense, pupils’ mental health is jeopardized, and a substantial percentage of children are illiterate as a result of school violence.
Throughout the years, change is required. Many causes have come to light for the lack of change in this circumstance. One of them is a lack of understanding and training, as well as power dynamics, social and cultural factors, and bad educational infrastructure. Teachers and older students, in particular, may misuse their positions of power and authority in order to impose control over younger or weaker people.
As a way of asserting control, this might lead to acts of violence or torture. We’ve also seen that some teachers and school officials aren’t getting enough training in nonviolent discipline or conflict resolution. The majority are senior instructors. Furthermore, socio-cultural norms and attitudes toward violence in schools might contribute to its prevalence.
Some steps should be implemented to address this burning issue since school violence impacts students both physically and emotionally. A pleasant school climate must be promoted, as most thorough policies to deter violence. Student engagement in decision-making processes should be ensured, as should the creation of platforms for open discussion among students, instructors, parents, and administrators. It is now quite simple to establish awareness campaigns on school violence, its consequences, and preventive tactics by holding seminars, workshops, cultural events, and so on. Concerned authorities can organize training workshops for kids, teachers, and parents to recognize violent syndromes. It is critical to establish school clubs and student support centers where students may face obstacles both psychically and cognitively.
It must be assured that schools have clear and fair discipline regulations that are consistently implemented. Create protocols for reporting events, investigating complaints, and imposing appropriate punishments for individuals who engage in aggressive conduct. It is critical to develop a comprehensive learning atmosphere at school. Training should also emphasize empathy, tolerance, and peaceful dialogue.
(The writer is a student of Department of Law & Human Rights, University of Asia Pacific).
