19 Feb 2026

The Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education says the use of corporal punishment in all schools has been suspended pending a review of all relevant laws. 

Answering a question in Parliament on Wednesday, Minister Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, said the decision was made in the best interests of the child. 

She noted that the move aligned Botswana with international conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the country was a signatory. 

The minister emphasised that the suspension was not merely an attempt to dismiss culture or faith. 

Instead, she explained, it was about examining whether certain practices continued to serve the child’s best interests within a modern constitutional and human rights framework. 

According to the minister, the issue had been debated extensively. 

She noted that key stakeholders, including teacher trade unions, supported the abolition of corporal punishment. 

“These unions have also advocated for strengthening educational psychological care and support systems for both teaching and learning,” she said. 

Addressing concerns about classroom management, Ms Kgafela-Mokoka said teachers and learners were already aware of alternative discipline methods. 

She added that a formal assessment of the school environment, comparing conditions before and after the suspension, was currently ongoing.

Acknowledging that societies undergo significant social transitions, the minister stressed that legal reform must be accompanied by public education campaigns, parental training on positive discipline and active engagement with traditional and religious leaders. 

The minister was responding to a question from Serowe South MP, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi, who wanted to know why government had moved against Batswana cultural norms and biblical principles that encouraged corporal discipline. 

Mr Lesedi had also raised concerns regarding a perceived lack of consultation and asked how government planned to protect staff from unruly learners who may feel emboldened by the new restrictions. ENDS