Getting caned

In Tanzania, corporal punishment is still used in schools as a means of disciplining pupils. The use of corporal punishment in schools is governed by the Education (Corporal Punishment) Regulations, which provides that a head teacher can strike a pupil on the hands or buttocks for serious breaches of school discipline. In a 2007 survey conducted in Tanzanian schools, 80 percent of students indicated that their teachers used corporal punishment. In the past few years, questions have been raised about the efficacy of corporal punishment as a punishment. In addition, concerns have been raised about the impact of corporal punishment on the quality of learning. In the 2007 survey mentioned above, children had indicated that they experienced difficulties learning from a teacher when they feared the teacher would use corporal punishment or other measures to demean or humilate them.

Ironically, in February 2009, the Bukoba District Commissioner, Albert Mnali, had 19 primary school teachers caned by a police officer. According to the Districit Commissioner, he ordered the teachers to be caned for lateness, truancy and not following the official syllabus. However, the teachers' union has connected the caning to a dispute between the union and the government over teachers' salary arrears. The District Commissioner has been dismissed.