Representatives of school children challenged MPs and government officials whether corporal punishment was right as a means to discipline kids at school and at home.
Pupils and parliamentarians held yesterday a debate at Nyakuran Cultural Centre to mark African Child Day celebration.Emmanuel Moi from Gudele Model Primary School opened the debate by asking GoSS Minister for Gender, Child and Social Welfare whether beating up kids was right.
Minister Agnes Kwaje Lasuba answered that it depended on magnitude of flogging.
She explained that slight beating were part of discipline in South Sudan’s society.
Ms Kwaje said some cultures forbid beating because they consider it as brutal.
She added that the beating does not mean harm to the kids; just a way to make children listen and be focus.
The head of Social Welfare, Youth and Sports committee at the South Sudan Assembly Gatwech Lam Puoch disagreed with the Minister.
He said beating was not the best option to discipline children at school or home.
Mr. Lam explained that every school should have a discipline facility to isolate those kids who violate school regulations.