Learning Environment Reforms: Student Perceptions of Safety and Discipline Post-RTE Act Prohibition

Monalisa Khanikar, Dr. Baloy Bhattacharjee

Abstract: This study looked at how pupils' perceptions of safety and discipline in Indian schools were affected by the ban on physical punishment under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups were all used in this mixed-methods descriptive study, which was carried out at a few government and private schools in Patna, Bihar. The findings showed that when the RTE rules were put into place, kids' perception of emotional and physical safety significantly improved. Counseling, discussion, and participatory disciplinary techniques have gradually replaced punitive tactics in schools, improving teacher-student interactions and creating a more welcoming environment. Nonetheless, issues remained, such as a lack of knowledge about students' rights, sporadic verbal reprimands, and insufficient training for teachers in positive discipline techniques. The study emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to institutionalize empathy-driven, child-centered education and guarantee the successful implementation of safety and discipline rules, even though legal reforms under the RTE Act have improved school conditions.

Keywords: Right to Education Act, corporal punishment, school safety, discipline reforms, student perceptions, teacher?student relationship, child rights, inclusive education

How to Cite?: Monalisa Khanikar, Dr. Baloy Bhattacharjee, "Learning Environment Reforms: Student Perceptions of Safety and Discipline Post-RTE Act Prohibition", Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1098-1102, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251114160023, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251114160023