The interim Fiji education minister, Filipe Bole, says teachers who use corporal punishment on students are bullies.
He says teachers who rely on corporal punishment show a lack of initiative and creativity.
He says they're bullies in that they're assaulting young students who are powerless, helpless and cannot retaliate.
Mr Bole says the teachers are taught methods for the proper disciplining of students.
And he says parents needs to monitor their children's behaviour and keep telling them of the proper way to behave.
