Curbing Teachers' Physical Violence of Learners in Lubombo Region Primary Schools in Eswatini

ABSTRACT: Eswatini National Education and Training Sector Policy states that schools should create protective and secure healthy learning environments. The Ministry of Education and Training announced the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools; however, the media reported cases where teachers’ physical violence against learners. The study aimed to investigate the teachers’ physical violence against learners in the Lubombo primary schools in Eswatini. Recommendations for curbing violent disciplinary measures were developed. The study measured the physical violence of the learners against the rights of the child in the Constitution of Eswatini. A qualitative approach was used, employing a case study design for the study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from 15 learners in three primary schools, and purposive sampling was used to collect data from five learners in grade six from each school. The study portrayed that teachers used physical violence in disciplining learners, causing drop-outs, and schools allowed corporal punishment, causing learners’ lapse of concentration. Teachers used corporal punishment as a quick solution. The recommendation was that teachers should use non-violent disciplinary methods on learners. Government and school principals should workshop teachers on positive discipline. A quantitative study including schools from all regions of Eswatini was needed.