As we approach National Children's Day this coming Saturday, we cannot ignore the alarming reality of violence in schools that continues unabated due to systemic impunity and the authoritarian school culture.
Last year witnessed a multitude of shocking news stories about corporal punishment, such as the two teachers in Nonthaburi shoving plastic bags on kindergarteners' heads to stop them from crying. In Buri Ram, a primary student received 70 cane strikes for an unfinished homework item. In Roi Et, a two-year-old was repeatedly hit on the back with a steel lunch plate until it turned black and blue for not knowing how to put the plate back in its place.
A year-end incident showcased extreme violence and explains why such perpetration persists. It involved a teacher in Lop Buri beating up a primary school student until their ribs were broken and hitting another student's head against the wall until it became swollen. He had committed such violence before, yet the school allowed him to continue teaching.
If school punishment sounds like hazing in the barracks, it's because schools are part of the militaristic culture that perpetuates authoritarianism by extolling absolute obedience and deference to superior authority. Both institutions also fiercely shield their members, as acknowledging wrongdoing is perceived as undermining the reputation and integrity of their institutions.
Education authorities often claim the abuse is an exception to the rule. In fact, the extreme violence making headlines is just the tip of the iceberg. Common forms of punishment include pinching, hitting with a stick, making students stand in the sun, and verbal abuse undermining students' confidence.
A 2020 TDRI survey revealed widespread physical punishment in classrooms, with 64% of students nationwide encountering it, rising to 70% outside Bangkok.
Teachers justify their violence with good intentions to instil discipline, citing the old Thai saying "rak wua hai phuk rak look hai tee" (spare the rod, spoil the child). The Ministry of Education's ban since 2000 on physical punishment has been ineffectual due to impunity perpetuating violence.
Impunity also empowers predatory teachers to commit sexual violence, inflicting lifelong trauma on victims. Despite stringent legal penalties for rapists, few victims report crimes due to limited resources and a fear of social stigma. They also recognise the formidable barrier shielding the perpetrators. Out-of-court settlements are common and often encouraged by the police.
The Child Protection Act prohibits all forms of physical and emotional abuse, with jail sentences and fines as penalties. The Ministry of Education also prohibits corporal punishment, allowing only verbal warning, counselling, behaviour score deductions and corrective activities that foster positive behaviour as disciplinary measures. The rape law also gives heavier legal punishment for people who abuse their superior status to assault youngsters.
Apparently, the absence of legal penalties is not the issue. The deep-seated authoritarianism in the system allows schools to flout the law to shield abusive teachers.
Currently, abusive teachers are mostly transferred to other schools instead of being fired, due to lengthy investigations and red tape. Nearly half of the teachers in a Unicef survey claim that non-violent punishment has no impact, and the majority see corporal punishment as not violating children's rights.
While prompt and decisive punishment for abusive teachers and raising awareness about children's rights are necessary, they still do not address the crux of the problem.
This oppressive culture stems from a closed, top-down system that does not allow external oversight for transparency and accountability. The solution to a safe school environment is opening up school management at the local level to create accountability and transparency. This can be achieved by allowing parents and communities to have a say in teacher recruitment, evaluation, and termination of hiring.
This school administrative reform will not be an easy process. It is most likely that the Education Ministry will strongly oppose it to protect its central authority.
However, this structural reform is necessary to strike a balance between local needs and central authority to make schools efficient, accountable and, most importantly, safe for children.
The motto honouring children as the future of the nation is indeed hollow if schools still protect teachers who violate the students physically and sexually while education authorities are doing little to stop the violations just to preserve their power.