Perception on Corporal Punishment to Children in Myanmar
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
Introduction
• Disciplining and punishment to children is frequently
practiced in confusion without having clear line of
demarcation in some societies including Myanmar… have
questions concerning the limits
• Parenting – cultural and social expectations
• ‘Positive parenting’
- to the self-esteem, confidence,
adaptability, and overall success and well-being of the child
• Myanmar culture - Every one thinks that people think that
they should pay ‘respect elders’ (even older than minutes) in
society. Otherwise, sanction…Parents powered by tradition….
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
The issue (Beliefs and Expectations)
• Parents & teachers simply commit corporal punishment as
they believe that other parents/teachers in community do
the same way (a way of setting discipline).
• Children are expected to be obedient, and well-disciplined in
the society.(factual beliefs )
• Most parents think that they are perceived by others that
they ought to set discipline to their children if they want to be
appraised by community as good parents. Otherwise…social
deviants
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
• Parents…different normative personal beliefs - perhaps think
the physical or corporal punishment (by teachers) is
unacceptable…
• Children’s view on the relationship with their teachers in the
sense of corporal punishment …social sanction rather than
discipline
• the corporal punishment to them is exercising of power by
teachers as they have more resources in knowledge
• the Myanmar Child Law - favorable information –
confirmation of bias … parents & teachers quote easily. ‘willfully
maltreating a child, with the exception of the type admonition by a parent, teacher or a
person having the right to control the child, which is for the benefit of the child’
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
Measures to address corporal punishment in schools & community
What exists….
• So far … the Ministry of Education .. Directive on corporal punishment
(enabling environment) …. weakly enforced…..
• The country’s gradual openness ….. in Economics, Politics, social and other
development areas.. Media (enabling environment)
What will do to change
Teachers • to understand the motivation of teachers to act on corporal punishment
… corporal punishment, it is acceptable in the sense of disciplining to
children (long term … Different actors in different locations..)
• non-compliance expectations of teachers (others expect them) (ref.net)
• promoting alternative discipline, or positive discipline among teachers
reference network …. take times to get collective change behavior among
in different reference networks as the country has a rich diversity of
ethnicities
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
To change social expectation for parents
• one or two reference networks selected, explore motivation, beliefs and
expectation, and roles of actors …come up with abandonment of
punishment & bringing good value in disciplining which, in turn can be a
cascade to other reference networks through channeling on community
media (drama, talks, debate etc…) in order to get public awareness
• understand how parents perceive to teachers’ behavior to their children in
the sense of committing corporal punishment in schools
• power dynamic between children and teachers and children and parents
could be taken into consideration
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
Measures to address legal and regulatory framework
• the Myanmar Child Law (amendment underway)- check all
favorable and controversial information ….gear up….
• complement the directives issued from the Ministry of
Educations in respect to corporal punishment
• the Ministry of Education ….to enforce the directive in respect
to corporal punishment through effective monitoring..
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
Measures to address community participation, communitybased interventions
The existing programme
• … enhances community awareness and understanding &role of Township
CRC .. more or less similar with the concept of community-led
prioritization
• community support groups (CSGs); dedicated community members…
• Limited coverage (25 out of 335 townships) … not all villages/wards
covered in townships (not blanket)….
• Programme villages ---- other communities
• setting up children resource centers
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
Value deliberation on government staff on the need of skillful social workers ,
law enforcers, well-connectors
• Need of professional social workers … none existence at township level
(value deliberation among government staff) … social workers as law
enforcers , mediators ….
• Government start institutionalize capacity development of social
workers…
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
Proposal for case study
• The program….in the process of parent education trainings to roll out
education to parents in some programme areas
• have limitations to cover not even all programme villages …. tapping to the
existing government communication channels
• a well-connected reference network of parents will be chosen from the
existing programme areas… explore their social expectations and positive
social norms
• reminding everyone’s perception on a child in family as ‘treasure’…
Parents:
• mothers who do not commit corporal punishment.. Champions .. network
analysis of those champions
• the treatment on corporal punishment to different reference groups will
be varied … Myanmar… rich ethnic diversity … positive social norms..
social expectations … local variations in belief and expectation…take long
time to change across country…
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program
Network of social workers
• the network of social workers … highly connected and central….
• They …not only in cascading information and monitoring law
implementing but also in advocating higher level government authorities
• Topping up strategy - Myanmar has symbolic festivals for each Myanmar
months … a nice example…water festival ..enjoy no matter which ethnic
groups they belong to
• a community drama/opera in respect to corporal punishment
• snowballing approach
other enabling factors to corporal punishment
• financial insecurity…community seed fund…fund management and
community auditing (with thorough eyes…)
• To conclude, research this topic further from a social norms perspectives
to implicate in existing programme….
Thank You
ckk presentation on case study : UNICEF- UPenn learning program