Ing. Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, who serves as the Vice-Chancellor of Sunyani Technical University, is championing the idea of reintroducing corporal punishment in schools.
During the 63rd Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Sunyani Senior High School, Professor Adinkrah-Appiah conveyed his apprehension regarding the escalating decline in discipline within schools across the nation.
He attributes this disturbing trend to the 2017 ban on all forms of corporal punishment imposed by the Ghana Education Service.
Professor Adinkrah-Appiah contends that the absence of corporal punishment has resulted in a leniency within the educational system, enabling students to engage in a range of delinquent behaviors, including smoking, alcoholism, armed robbery, and hooliganism, without facing appropriate consequences.
He firmly believes that it is imperative for the government to reassess its position on corporal punishment, proposing that it be reinstated but employed judiciously and as a last resort.
Professor Adinkrah-Appiah underscored the influence of peer pressure on students’ conduct and raised questions about how to effectively supervise and guide them in schools until they complete their education.
In 2019, the Ghana Education Service (GES) issued a directive prohibiting teachers and school authorities from utilizing corporal punishment. Instead, they advocated for the implementation of alternative disciplinary measures and sanctions to correct students, citing the potential physical and emotional harm associated with corporal punishment.
This matter has ignited diverse reactions among Ghanaians, particularly among education stakeholders.
The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has advised its members to adhere to the GES directive, while the Methodist Bishop of Accra cautioned against an outright ban on caning, expressing concerns that it could lead to a breakdown of discipline in schools and society.
Leave feedback about this