This document discusses disciplinary policies in education, particularly in Zimbabwe. It defines key terms like discipline and policy, and outlines different policy tools and disciplinary actions used in education systems, including counseling, behavioral control measures, punitive actions, suspension and expulsion. Specifically in Zimbabwe, the document notes that while corporal punishment was once allowed with approval, it is now banned, and alternatives like counseling, praise for good behavior and involving students in rule-making are advocated to reduce discipline problems. Suspension, expulsion and parental involvement are reserved for extreme cases to maintain behavioral standards.

1. PEDAGOGY: PRESENTATION
DISCIPLINARY POLICIES
Key Terms
 Discipline
 Policy
 Zimbabwe
 Education

2. Discipline
 Latin discipulus (pupil) & disciplina teaching (Krishnan, 2009).
Trained condition of order and obedience, order kept among school learners, bring to a
condition of order and obedience or bring under control (Thomdile and Barnhart, 1979)
Practice of imposing strict rules of behaviour on other people (Treffry et al 1997)
To follow instructions, and to be obedient to an authority.
 Used in distinct authority eg Church, Military, Schools etc

3. Policy
 Guidelines, rules, regulations, principles, or directions
 A plan of action agreed to by a group of people with the power
to carry it out and enforce it (Devon Dodd & Hébert-Boyd, 2000)
 Examples: counselling, corporal punishment, suspension etc
 Found at personal, organizational, and public

4. Policy tools
Methods used to implement policies
 information, education, legislation, regulation, guidelines, standards, procedures
Disciplinaries policies or actions in education
 Variations from place to place
Standard policies ubiquitous
 Counselling, Behaviour control, Punitive measures & Suspension and expulsion

5. Disciplinary policies: Zimbabwe Education System
fighting, truancy, vandalism, bullying, taking drugs, sharing pornographic
 Discipline is imperative to control behaviour
Corporal punishment is widely contested
The Zimbabwean Education Policy Circular 35 forbids the use of corporal punishment by
teachers without the recorded school head’s approval.
corporal punishment “without authority” felt disempowered in the eyes of mischievous
students
 Perceived as abuse of rights
Educative order which tries to reach appropriate standards and follow rules for engaging
invaluable educational activity (Wilson 1977)
, educators and psychologists argue that, teachers can praise good behaviour, impose
non-physical punishments and involve children in making the school rules to reduce
discipline problems (Kimaryo 1998)

6. Corporal punishment
• Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act 2004 states that a school
teacher (defined as the head or deputy head of a school) “shall have
authority to administer moderate corporal punishment for disciplinary
purposes upon any minor male pupil or student
• “Any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause
some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves hitting
(“smacking”, “slapping”, “spanking”)children, with the hand or with an
implement – whip, stick, belt, shoe, wooden spoon (United Nations
Committee on the Rights of the Child)
• Corporal for children both at home and school was outlawed in Zimbabwe
in 2017 after a parent approached the High Court and complained that her
child in grade one had deep bruises after a beating by a teacher

7. Suspension and expulsion
 Applicable is all schools
Only in extreme cases, should learners be excluded and expelled from school
(Ozigi 1977).
Expulsion, like exclusion, required parental involvement
Sets example to fellow learners
Maintain good behavioural standards for schools

8. Counselling
• Support services to learners is necessary
• Learners might experience social problem
• Close monitoring of learners

9. References
• Wilson, J.(1977). Philosophy and practical education. London: Longman.
• Kimaryo, M.(1998). Alternatives to corporal punishment. Discipline without
beating: a challenge for educators. Mwanza:Kulena Centre for Children’s Rights.
• Krishnan, A. (2009). ‘What are academic disciplines’. University of Southampton.
• Thomdile, E.L. & Barnhart, C.L. 1979. Scott, Foresman Intermediate Dictionary.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Treffry, D, Summers, E, O'Neil Hasset, P. & Todd, J. 1997. Collins New English
Dictionary.London: Harper Collins