Our project worked in two districts in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) on the island of West Timor and Lomblen in Indonesia. The districts of Kupang and Lembata have been selected for this project as districts in which SUTRA Foundation has seen considerable commitment from the District governments (includes Education department) to improving the quality and access to a primary education. While the education activities have focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning at primary level through the strengthening of the capacity of education officials and school committees, there has also been integration with social protection activities, particularly those that relate to reducing levels of violence against children and young people both in and out of school

The unwelcoming environment in many schools in Indonesia, especially in Eastern part of Indonesia was made worse when children are afraid of their teachers or intimidated by the classroom atmosphere. The field experienced has identified physical and emotional punishment of children as a major issue in East Nusa Tenggara schools, one which can affect both attendance and learning. The population generally feels that physically punishing a child will bear financial dividends ultimately; as the communities believe that punishing a child will ensure good discipline and encourage the child to try harder at school resulting in enhanced job prospects if the child graduates from school. However, based on assessment of SUTRA Foundation children themselves in East Nusa Tenggara have reported that they lack self-confidence and feel scared and vulnerable when they are subjected to abuse.

This will ultimately lead to those children in turn, on becoming adults, to feel it is normal to discipline children physically or emotionally. Common forms of punishment in schools are making children kneel on the floor, hitting them on the head, pulling ears, pinching, pulling hair and hitting with sticks. Ridicule, shouting, taunting and name-calling are also used as control mechanisms. Competitive principles are used in most children’s games and activities, and losers not only lose but are then ‘punished’ for losing. Many teachers and parents have not been exposed to basic concepts of child rights or child protection as endorsed by their own government (through Child Protection Law no. 23/2002) as well as the international community (through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).

To address these issues SUTRA Foundation conduct positive discipline training and support for teachers, principals and school supervisors in Dompu district, province of West Nusa Tenggara, Lembata and Kupang district province of West Nusa Tenggara. This training supported by Plan International Indonesia. Support visit was done after the training session, in support visit facilitator visit the school to observe the implementation of positive discipline in the school and discuss and assist the teachers.

In positive discipline technique the teachers could learn behavioral management to respond child misbehavior without violence. Trough positive discipline the teachers could tech children while respect their human rights.

The goal of the training is knowledge and skill of teachers, principal and school supervisors to discipline children trough positive way was increased. Four days training and two days support visit held in three different sub district in two province, 104 people attended the training.