Dar es Salaam – A video showing a teacher brutally beating a student at a secondary school has ignited a nationwide debate on social media about corporal punishment in schools, with the victim’s mother demanding justice while public opinion remains sharply divided.
The incident at Makumbusho Secondary School in Dar es Salaam has generated intense discussions on social media platforms, exposing deep divisions in Tanzanian society about discipline in schools.
The viral video shows a male teacher repeatedly striking a student lying on the ground with a stick, sparking outrage from child rights advocates and support from those who defend traditional disciplinary methods.
Amina Salumu, the mother of the beaten student, has spoken out publicly about the September 18, 2025 incident involving her son, Khatibu Salim, a Form Two student. In one interview, Amina revealed that her son was allegedly beaten “for talking in class” despite already being ill with typhoid and experiencing back pain.
“The day before, on September 17, the same teacher had given my son a sick note to seek treatment for back pain,” she said. “My child was already sick, so why didn’t the school cooperate?”
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The mother’s account raises serious questions about the school’s handling of the incident. She claims that when she approached the school for answers, officials told her “it doesn’t concern me, the school board will handle these matters.”
Most troubling, she states that despite the severity of the beating captured on video, “the teacher has not been dismissed and is still at the school,” contradicting the letter circulating online which purposes that the school has dismissed the teacher.
When she requested to meet with the teacher during a school meeting, officials refused, allegedly saying she might harm him.
The incident has exposed the widespread violation of Tanzania’s Education (Corporal Punishment) Regulations, 2002 (GN No. 294/2002), which permit corporal punishment but strictly limit it to four strokes with a “light, flexible stick” on the hands or buttocks, administered only by the head teacher or designated staff with prior approval.
The video clearly shows violations of these regulations, yet the response has been mixed.
Social media reactions reveal a society deeply divided on the issue. While some users expressed support for the mother with comments like, “Well done mama! Stand with your son,” others defended the teacher’s actions.
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“I stand with that teacher,” wrote one commenter, while another argued, “Parents shouldn’t interfere with teachers when they’re doing their duties.” The debate reflects generational and cultural divides, with many older commenters defending corporal punishment based on their own school experiences.
Not isolated incident
This is not an isolated incident. In February 2025, Mhoja Maduhu, a Form Two student, died after allegedly being beaten and trampled by his teacher at Mwasamba Secondary School in the Simiyu region. The 2018 death of 13-year-old Sperius Eradius following a beating by his teacher in Kagera also sparked national outrage and calls for reform.
Research underscores the severity of the problem. A 2023 study found that 99 per cent of secondary school teachers in Tanzania admitted to using physical or emotional violence against students, while 67.4 per cent of primary school students had experienced physical violent discipline.
The study linked such practices to lower academic achievement, poorer mental health, and increased dropout rates.
Human rights organisations have intensified their calls for reform following recent incidents. The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) and Tanzania Education Network (TEN/MET) have urged the government to amend the Education Act of 1978 to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment and establish School Safety and Protection Committees in all schools.
Research by HakiElimu, a non–profit organisation advocating for quality education for all, shows that 98 per cent of students feel safe in schools where positive discipline is practised, demonstrating that effective alternatives exist.
Despite mounting evidence and international commitments, including Tanzania’s pledge to establish child protection desks in all 25,000 schools by 2029, the government remains reluctant to ban corporal punishment entirely.
Education Commissioner Dr Lyabwene Mutahabwa has stated that while monitoring will be strengthened, complete abolition is not imminent.
