Johannesburg – Action will be taken against teachers who continue to use corporal punishment in schools, President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday.

Speaking at the 17th national teachers' awards ceremony in Midrand, Johannesburg, he said social ills had to be rooted out from schools.

"First, is corporal punishment. It is shocking that regardless of the outlawing of this barbaric form of punishment in schools we still hear of cases where learners have been severely beaten by teachers. Some have been reported to have lost their lives.

"We condemn the beating of children in schools. It is unlawful and action will be taken against teachers who break the law and violate the dignity and personal safety of children," he said.

Also, the problem of teenage pregnancies continued, indicating that "we are failing somewhere as parents and teachers in guiding and teaching our youth".