Churches want ban on caning of students lifted over indiscipline

Churches have called for the lifting of a ban on corporal punishment in schools, saying this will help tame rising student unrest.

The call was made by the National Council of Churches of Kenya at the close of its annual general assembly at Jumuia Conference and Beach Resort in Kanamai, Kilifi County.

Council’s secretary-general Peter Karanja, indiscipline has been rising steadily since the ban was introduced. He said most successful people have become what they are because of the cane and other methods.

Corporal punishment in schools was outlawed in 2001.

'LOPSIDED POLICIES'

“The Ministry of Education has lopsided policies in schools discipline. The Bible has no problem with caning. It says if you cane a child, they will not die but you will save their souls,” he said.

The call comes after a wave of strikes in secondary schools resulted in deaths and injuries to students and destruction of property.

Kilifi County was one of the worst hit in July while in Kiambu County, two students were burnt to death and 11 others injured in a fire that led to the closure of StephJoy Secondary School.

The Rev Karanja said: “We are not saying caning is the only solution. This has challenges that may contravene international protocols, but discipline is critical. If students are not disciplined, they will destroy themselves and others,” he said.

EXCESSES

The secretary-general said the courts have been used to readmit rogue students who return to commit more felonies.

“When you force that child back into school, you are exposing all the other students to danger,” he said.

He added that the excesses witnessed in schools result from “a sense of security” when students know they won’t be disciplined.

“If children belong to the juvenile courts and rehabilitation centres, that is where they should be. They have no business destroying the lives of innocent school mates,” the Reverend Karanja said.

The conglomeration of various church denominations also called on Parliament to reject the proposed Comprehensive Sexuality Education Curriculum.

“The proposed curriculum promotes unfettered promiscuity, abortion and sexual aberrations and also seeks to take away the rights of children provided for in the Constitution. We, therefore demand that the curriculum be immediately withdrawn from the 34 schools where it is being piloted,” he said.

He added that parents should set a good example for their children and not expect teachers to do all the work for them.