Challenges facing the implementation of children’s rights in primary schools in Ethiopia

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to examine the challenges facing the implementation of children’s rights to protection from physical punishment when schools administer discipline. The study, which was conducted in primary schools in a city in Southern Ethiopia, employed qualitative research involving interviews, observations and open-ended questionnaires. The findings indicate that children are exposed to various forms of physical punishments in schools. The challenges are mainly posed by traditional authoritarian child-rearing practices and a lack of knowledge about children’s rights among teachers and parent teacher representatives, despite senior leadership appearing familiar with the rhetoric regarding physical punishment.