India, Dec. 1 -- In a first, the state school education department will be conducting a special training session for teachers on how to discipline school children positively and in harmless ways, following a spate of physical punishment complaints across the state and the recent death of a student in Vasai after an alleged assault by a teacher.

According to the department, the initiative aims to provide a safe space for students' mental health and well-being, ensure a safer school environment and improve teacher-student relationships. All education councils at the district, taluka and central levels have been directed to conduct a 45-minute training session on positive discipline in the first week of December.

School education minister ...