As the new school year fully begins today (September 11), the Education Ministry is cautioning school administrators and teachers against using denial of access to education as punishment.

The warning comes in the wake of a report that at least one school was planning to lock out students who sported school bags with the “dunce” slogan.

In a statement this morning, the Ministry said school administrators and teachers need to apply corrective actions consistently and prudently, in accordance with the country’s laws and established best practices in education.

It said numerous studies have shown that denying students access to education as a means of punishment worsens undesirable behaviours.

The Ministry also warned that the age-old practice of denying access to education as punishment is not only counterproductive, it is also illegal.