THE Ministry of Education has warned students and teachers against the use of corporal punishment.

The statement was made in light of recent incident involving a house captain from an all boys' boarding school in Tailevu.

Officials from the ministry said their stand against the use of corporal punishment had been in place since Netani Sukanaivalu's tenure as education minister.

"(Education minister) Mr (Filipe) Bole has also taken the same stand and the ministry's policy on the matter remains the same.

Education Minister Filipe Bole: "Corporal punishment is illegal and those who use it will be taken to task by the ministry and if it warrants their attention, the police."

"Corporal punishment is illegal and those who use it will be taken to task by the ministry and if it warrants their attention, the police."

Mr Bole said this was the second case which had come to their attention in one week.

He said the ministry was going to work closely with teachers and senior students in all schools in an effort to curb the practice.

"The ministry's role is to dictate policies and regulations. It's the teachers who have to raise awareness and make sure the laws are followed and regulations kept in place in their respective schools."

Mr Bole went on to say that suspension and expulsion were a last resort in such cases while police involvement was only sought if warranted by the seriousness of the case.

Parents had asked why the ministry allowed those accused of abuse to continue their schooling.

Mr Bole had this to say: "... The accused has the benefit of the doubt until he is proven guilty. As of now, he has only been charged and is awaiting his hearing in May. This is why the ministry has endorsed his request to resume his studies."