A 1991 a report by the government's Nyalali Commission, headed by the Chief Justice, publicly condemned corporal punishment. The Commission recommended a review of the 1978 Education Act, which allows teachers to use a cane on the palms of female students and on boys' buttocks. The regulations specify that there should not be more than six blows and that such measures should be administered only for serious breaches of school discipline or other grave offence. In addition, every beating is supposed to be recorded in a book. In practice, say education officials, teachers rarely adhere to the rules.
Most teachers admit they use the cane and are apt to strike first and ask for explanations later.
The reason, they say, is they simply do not have time or energy to sit down and talk with students. For one thing, resources in most schools are strained. It is not uncommon for 80 students to share 10 books. He cites an extreme example of a school in the district with 400 students and only two teachers. Some children are so humiliated by the experience they run away from school.