School boy brawl makes Samoa’s PM consider corporal punishment

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said was beginning to think that “western-styled disciplinary methods we have been adopting in recent years – which includes frowning on the strap – is not working” and he is seriously considering the reintroduction of corporal punishment.

He made this comment following a brawl between Avele and St Joseph’s colleges in Apia on Tuesday.

The clash – involving a number of students scrapping and throwing rocks and bottles – took place at the bus depot behind the flea market at around 2.30 in the afternoon. Several cars were damaged as Police and firemen struggled to control the melee.

“Samoa only has to look at Singapore as an example of how corporal punishment works,” Tuilaepa said.

“Singapore allows the administering of corporal punishment by the State and that country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. So obviously they must be doing something right.”

Five students have been charged by Police for fighting at a public bus stop causing injury to a father of Maagiagi and also injured two students of Saint Joseph’s College who were sitting at the bus stop when the fighting started.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Leaupepe Fatu Pula confirmed that one of the students facing charges is from the National University of Samoa,  who is an ex-student of SJC.

Leaupepe also confirmed that four other students from Saint Josephs College between the ages of 15-17 year old have been charged.

Source

 
Additional reading

News category: Asia Pacific.

Tags: , ,