The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development has declared its intention to suspend and eventually abolish corporal punishment in schools.

The move is in keeping with the many international conventions that Saint Lucia is signatory to.

Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Ruffina Charles, said that while the Education Act had no stated policy for the abolition of corporal punishment it did contain structures in the Act that stipulated how corporal punishment should be administered. Charles added however that the department must ensure that the mandates stipulated in the conventions which includes protection of children, are achieved.

To aid in the implementation process, the Department of Education established a working committee. The committee is also charged with the responsibility of deciding the required initiatives and implementation dates towards the eventual abolition of corporal punishment. The initiatives will include the sensitization of the general public and training for educators on island.

In 2007 the Department established the Child Friendly Schools initiative with a pilot project implemented at two schools, with the addition of two more schools per district, per year.

The Department of Education indicated that corporal punishment has been suspended as it works towards the eventual abolition of corporal punishment.