UCT Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 - Magazine - Page 36
Research and Innovation
Addressing corporal punishment in schools
While corporal punishment has been outlawed in schools the
practice does still occur. In 2024, UCT’s Children’s Institute
Understanding the needs of visually impaired
people in the voting process
(CI) became involved as a friend of the court in a case
A research study, led by UCT’s Including Disability in
children who were victims of corporal punishment and the
Education in Africa (IDEA), set out to understand the
human rights organisation, Section 27.
experiences of blind and visually impaired people in casting
their ballot during South Africa’s 2024 elections.
The work revealed there is much still to be done to
launched by the Centre for Child Law, the parents of two
The CI put forward evidence on the use of corrective
measures for teachers and a child-centred approach to teacher
discipline. This case resulted in a ruling by the Supreme Court
adequately accommodate the needs of this group.
of Appeal in 2024 that UCT’s CI and the Centre for Child Law
The study, titled “Enhancing voter participation for people who
be consulted on the redrafting of the Mandatory Sanctions
are blind or partially sighted in South Africa”, was conducted
Policy of the South African Council of Educators (SACE) that
in partnership with BlindSA, a non-pro昀椀t organisation
applies to teachers who mete out corporal punishment.
committed to equipping blind people with the skills they need
The major changes to the Mandatory Sanctions Policy of
to fully and independently participate in society.
SACE that have been gained include:
The study’s main goal was to understand if blind
• A requirement to hear from children and caregivers before
and visually impaired South Africans were adequately
deciding on the sanction of the teacher; and
accommodated, as promised, at voting stations throughout
• The inclusion of rehabilitative sanctions, i.e. ordering
the country. The researchers found a signi昀椀cant disconnect
teachers to undergo retraining before returning to the
between what was promised and the experiences on
classroom to control their own anger or manage discipline
the ground.
through nonviolent means.
Negative perceptions and biases remain one of the biggest barriers for true
inclusion. This research study provides crucial insights into the actual state of
accessibility for blind and visually impaired people and should be central to
discussions on inclusion.
– Benedict Leteane, researcher at IDEA.
72 - Sustainability and the SDGs 2024
Sustainability and the SDGs 2024 – 73
