What Happened?
A secondary school teacher in Dar es Salaam has been fired after a disturbing video circulated online showing him violently attacking a student. The clip—widely shared over the weekend—captures Msila Msila, a teacher at Makumbusho Secondary School in Kinondoni, repeatedly beating, slapping and kicking a Form Two pupil, Khatibu Khatib.
Immediate Action by the School
According to headmistress Ester Mianga, the assault took place on Thursday, 18 September. The next day, after consulting the school’s Parent Committee, administrators dismissed the teacher. Mianga emphasised that the punishment clearly violated national rules on corporal punishment.
What the Law Says
Tanzania’s Education Circular No. 24 of 2002—and the accompanying Corporal Punishment Regulations—allow only limited, carefully controlled discipline in schools. Key points include:
Method: Striking a pupil lightly on the hand or on normally clothed buttocks with a flexible stick.
Limit: No more than four strokes at a time.
Conditions:Age, sex and health of the pupil must be considered.
Prohibited Acts: Hitting with other instruments or striking other parts of the body is not allowed.
Parents may refuse corporal punishment for their child; if a school insists, the only legal recourse is to follow formal expulsion or exclusion procedures—not physical violence.
Why It Matters
The case has reignited debate in Tanzania over how schools maintain discipline and how social media can expose abuse. Corporal punishment remains legal but tightly regulated. Education officials and children’s rights advocates say the viral video illustrates why those limits exist—and how quickly public scrutiny can hold educators accountable.
Next Steps
The Ministry of Education has not announced further action, but the incident highlights a growing call from rights groups to review or abolish corporal punishment entirely. Meanwhile, the student is receiving support, and authorities have reminded schools that any breach of the 2002 regulations can lead to dismissal and possible prosecution.
This incident serves as a clear reminder: discipline in Tanzanian schools is bound by law, and teachers who cross the line risk losing their jobs—and more.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.