Apia, SAMOA — Samoa's education minister says teachers continue to dish out corporal punishment, years after it was made illegal.

However, Loau Keneti Sio said he doesn't blame them because child discipline was a growing problem.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Loau said the government is looking to reinstate some kind of rule allowing what he called reasonable force.

But he said corporal punishment will remain illegal.

Loau said families needed to take more responsibility for their children's behavior.