Eastern Regional Teachers’ Service Commission Director Mr. Daniel Cherutoi has warned teachers against administering corporal punishment in schools.
Cherutoi said corporal punishment has been outlawed and any teacher found culpable risks being prosecuted. He advised teachers to use alternative methods of punishment that do not harm the learners.
“Corporal punishment was outlawed and teachers are required to follow the laid down procedures of alternative punishment that include counseling,” said Cherutoi.
Speaking at Makueni Boys on Wednesday when he presided over a prize giving function, the regional TSC director however noted that banning of corporal punishment does not mean that indisciplined learners should not be corrected.
“Outlawing of corporal punishment is not an excuse to leave students who flout school regulations alone, let the teachers use the right measures to correct them,” he said.
Cherutoi noted with concern that TSC had received several reports of teachers in Makueni meting out corporal punishment to students.
“We shall prosecute the cases according to the guidelines of TSC, but my plea to such teachers is to stop subjecting learners to corporal punishment,” he added.
In February 2019, a 15 year- old class six pupil at Mikuyuni Primary in Kibwezi Sub County died after he was allegedly beaten by his teacher.
Cherutoi urged parents to spend time with their children during the Easter holidays and stop relegating their parental roles to teachers.
He said it was the parents’ sole responsibility to instill discipline in their children and not teachers.
“It is the role of parents to build the character of their children and they should not shirk the responsibility to teachers,” added TSC director.
Speaking at the same event, County TSC director Catherine Mwenda said TSC had enlisted child protection sensitization forums for teachers across the county to educate them on child rights and protection.
By Roselyne Kavoo