Education CS George Magoha differed publicly with Alliance High School Principal Macharia Mwangi over the re-introduction of caning in schools.
The CS had visited the institution on Monday, March 8, to launch the Clean Cooking Programme when the discussion came up in which the two leaders were on contradicting ends of the spectrum.
Mwangi argued that corporal punishment in schools was unnecessary, adding that it was not an effective tool to instill discpline in students.
“We should ask ourselves why only dorms are set ablaze during riots and not classrooms. Could it be because learners do not feel comfortable,” argued the Principal.
Magoha, on the other hand, reacted to Mwangi's assertions when he took the podium noting that he firmly supported the re-introduction of caning.
He further noted that the proposal was already under review in the Ministry of Education and that the stakeholders would determine whether it is approved or not.
“The proposal to reintroduce caning is out there and it should be discussed without prejudice. Stakeholders will soon decide whether to amend the law and reintroduce it or parents will commit to instill discipline in their children,” stated Magoha.
He also maintained that learners should accord teachers maximum respect.
The other strategies being considered by the Ministry of Education are posting chaplains to schools and conducting random blood tests on students. The tests will ascertain whether students are abusing drugs.
In January, the CS had been vocal about the importance of the caning which he said was necessitated by the rising cases of indiscipline among students.
He said that corporal punishment may aid to reduce criminal activities at the time when there were increased incidents of students burning dormitories and attacking teachers with crude weapons.
Later that month, the Ministry of Education partnered with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate incidents in school and arrest culprits and announced that it could create criminal records against them.
Corporal punishment was outlawed in 2001 after complains mounted that it equaled physical abuse against minors. Before the outlaw, students reported severe injuries such as broken bones, knocked-out teeth and internal bleeding.
