There has been much hype in the public domain about the reintroduction of caning in schools.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has been a key proponent of the subject, openly calling for the cane to return.
His argument being that caning will instil discipline and see teachers gaining control of students.
In efforts to convince the public, he has also roped in his Interior counterpart Fred Matiang’i, who has also gone on record supporting the reintroduction of caning.
Caning was outlawed decades ago following the outcry of open violence by teachers on students. So severe was the punishment meted out on students that in a number of cases, students ended up dying.
It would appear as if many have forgotten the past and are now agitating for the reintroduction of the cane at the expense of the safety and well being of the students.
They are forgetting that as a country, we have made strides to protect the rights of children and safeguard them from all forms of violence in schools and at home.
The background of this unwarranted call is the recent upsurge of school fires. A number of schools in different parts of the country have been razed in the recent past.
While the education authorities have blamed students for arson, some learners and parents have pointed an accusing finger at teachers and school administrators.
While the jury is still out on who is responsible for the fires, one thing is clear: That the Education ministry has taken sides and decided it’s the students’ fault.
On critically assessing the underlying problems in schools, it is easy to note that students and teachers are feeling the strain of the crash learning system meant to catch up on time lost as a result of schools closure during the pandemic.
Students have to sit more exams, write extra notes and study more.
Teachers, on the other hand, are expected to mark more exams, prepare more notes and coach students far much more than usual.
This has led to massive stress and thus the burning of schools to get a break.
While it is no excuse to engage in arson to deal with school problems, it is important to listen to the complaints behind the fires because even parents are reported to be relieved when schools are closed since they will get a break from having to pay school fees so soon.
With all these issues clearly playing out, it is embarrassing to hear CS Magoha opting to sweep the dirt under the carpet and simply call for caning to be reintroduced.
His old school mentality tells him that force and caning will resolve all problems.
Article 53 (1) (d) of the Constitution on the issue of children states that “every child has the right to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practice, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and punishment and hazardous or exploitative labour”.
Caning is not only a form of violence but also inhumane, abuse and harmful practice.
Under the Constitution, therefore, any attempt to re-introduce caning will be contrary to Article 53 (1) (d) and cannot be allowed to stand.
The government is responsible for the mess the educations sector finds itself in.
Led by the CS Magoha, they chose to rush the school terms instead of simply accepting the months lost due to Covid-19 and just resume normal terms from where schools left prior to Covid-19.
By now, everyone would have been counting a year or so lost but everything would have been back to normal.
Wrong decisions made by those in authority are now costing the country and the blame placed on students and teachers.
Since Magoha has clearly demonstrated failure to contain the situation and choosing to fault find instead of resolving the underlying issues, it is time he stepped down to allow for a better person to do the job.
Education is a key mandate that requires an individual who is grounded on reality and willing to engage everyone, including students, to find a solution. The time is now. Magoha must go.
