Corporal Punishment and School Safety : Aligning Rules and Practice in Tanzanian Primary Schools

Overview & Synopsis

This policy brief examines corporal punishment and school discipline through the lens of the PSSP Process Evaluation. It documents the continued widespread use of physical punishment and identifies gaps between Tanzania’s regulatory framework and school-level practice, including differing interpretations of what constitutes a “serious offense.” The brief discusses options for strengthening discipline policy and practice through clearer guidance and documentation, stronger monitoring and accountability, positive discipline approaches, and consideration of the role of corporal punishment in the legal framework.