Elders suggest reintroduction of caning in schools

Wang'apala High School students, Homa Bay County, assess charred boxes on July 23, 2016 following the burning of their dormitory. A study by an education lobby says a forum for students to air their grievances would help solve the problem that has left more than 130 school dormitories destroyed. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • At the same time, the former principal called on teachers to cultivate a good working relationship with students, which is one of the ways of curbing the recent spate of arson.
  • Additionally, Mr Sharif Kambaa, also an elder, said it was unfortunate that students have not only lacked respect for teachers and their places of learning, but also their parents and guardians.

The Lamu Council of Elders has called on the national government to bring back caning in schools in order to restore discipline and contain hooliganism.

Addressing journalists in their Lamu office on Thursday, the chairman Hussein Sudi - who is a former Lamu Boys Secondary School principal - said that the ban on corporal punishment has exacerbated cases of indiscipline.

Mr Sudi lamented that lack of proper punishment measures and too much freedom accorded to students facilitate burning of schools.

He argued that with the reintroduction of the cane, students will be more afraid of engaging in criminal acts and that constant riots in schools will also be a thing of the past.

He, however, advised parents to be at the forefront in disciplining their children so that they may become good citizens.

At the same time, the former principal called on teachers to cultivate a good working relationship with students, which is one of the ways of curbing the recent spate of arson.

“The lifting of the corporal punishment has destroyed everything and I blame the government for the move. The now infamous arson in schools across the country were enough proof that discipline and responsibility among learners has been thrown out of the window and to the dogs," he said.

"We need the cane to be re-introduced with immediate effect. Teachers should also be close and engage students in dialogue so that grievances among students can be aired and addressed.”

Additionally, Mr Sharif Kambaa, also an elder, said it was unfortunate that students have not only lacked respect for teachers and their places of learning, but also their parents and guardians.

He said without immediate and effective interventions, the society will be raising a hopeless generation that does not see the value of education and Rule of Law.

“As a member of the council here in Lamu, we feel that the government should bring back the cane as soon as possible. Even the holy books advice us to cane our children in order to save them from evil but if that isn’t happening then we are losing it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Lamu branch chair Abubakar Shekuwe has asked the State to ensure a functional guidance and counselling programme is included in school curriculum to ensure sanity amongst students.

So far, about 127 schools across the country have had unrests.

Editing by Philip Momanyi