Government, Unions Oppose Re-introduction of Corporal Punishments in Schools

The government has rejected suggestions that corporal punishment be reintroduced in schools.

This is after a number of Members of parliament said that it would help deal with school unrests.

On Wednesday, Education CS Amina Mohammed said that the law on corporal punishment is clear and that the government has no intention to change it.

Gem MP Elisha  Odhiambo is among the MP’s who insist that corporal punishment is the key to calmness in schools.

“If students burn a building or do something wrong, they must be caned. We need to give teachers power to punish these children.” Odhiambo said.

However, Amina said that the ministry cannot give the power to cane pupils to teachers. She insisted that this would require amendment by parliament.

Amina went ahead to ask teachers to use other ways to discipline students.

“There are other ways to discipline, engage and communicate with our children. For now, we don’t know the red line so some teachers may take advantage and hurt the children.” She said.

Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akello Misori has also spoken against corporal punishment.

Students should not be brutalised. Reintroducing corporal punishment will make some teachers to brutalise students. This will radicalise them even more,” said Misori.

Misori has also appealed to the MP’s not to return education sector reforms to the dark days. He recommended guidance and counselling to wayward students so that it could help them reform.

KNUT Chairman Wilson Sossion is also against corporal punishment. He said that even if it is successfully passed by other stakeholders, teachers will not implement it.