Enforcing the Ban on Corporal Punishment and Changing Social Norms Will Improve Learning

Nearly two-thirds of schools in Uganda continue to use corporal punishment despite its prohibition under the 2016 National Children's Act. Using nationally representative UWEZO survey data from 2016 and 2024, Regean Mugume found that corporal punishment significantly undermines children's learning. Students in schools that use corporal punishment were 6.7 percentage points less likely to be proficient in English and 7.7 percentage points less likely to be proficient in mathematics. 

Although boys experienced corporal punishment more frequently, girls suffered larger learning losses. The study also found that the negative effects were shaped by community social norms, but corporal punishment reduced learning outcomes regardless of whether it was widely accepted. The findings highlight the need for stronger enforcement and positive discipline approaches.