Bring back the cane in schools, says MP

Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali has vowed to push for the re-introduction of corporal punishment in schools so as to address the rising indiscipline.

The legislator argued that caning was the best way for teachers to punish “wayward” students.

“My worry is that more students drop out of school due to drugs, alcohol or early pregnancies these days compared to two decades ago,” the lawmaker said.

He was speaking during a party for the Maraba Primary School alumni over the weekend.

Mr Washiali said he would start lobbying to have the ban on corporal punishment revoked and allow teachers to take full charge of students’ discipline.

“The way things are today, it is difficult for the teachers to play an important role in shaping the destiny of our children,” the MP said.

According to him, some of the laws passed in Parliament have destroyed the social stratum, citing the abolishment of caning in schools as a case in point.

He urged the Education ministry to engage stakeholders over the issue and support his quest to have the ban on caning removed.

“Even the lobby groups that advocated for the removal of corporal punishment must have realised their mistake by now,” Mr Washiali said.

The MP challenged the government to hire more teachers and increase their pay to avert the looming strike.