KARACHI: The Sindh education department has aired its concern regarding incidents of corporal punishment in educational institutions and warned of taking a stern action if any such incident takes place in a school.

`It has been noticed with great concern that incidents of corporal punishment are taking place in educational institutions frequently these days. It is to inform you that as per condition `4(h)` of Form `B` [Registration Certificate] corporal punishment to any student in any form is strictly prohibited,` read a letter issued by the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions in Sindh (DIRPIS).

It reminded the educational institu-tions about the passage of the Sindh Provision of Corporal Punishment Act 2016andstatedthattheSchoolEducation and Literacy Department had framed rules under the provision of the act.

According to the rules, educational institutions must constitute at least one or more child protection committee(s) with a chairperson, a representative of the department concerned regulating the institution and a parent or guardian of a child enrolled with the institution.

`If any incident of corporal punishment takes place in any school, stern action will be initiated as per Section B [cancellation/suspension of certificate of registration] of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions [regulation and control] Ordinance 2001, Amendment Act 2003 and Rules-2005, the letter added.