Educationist says caning should be minimised

The Central Regional Director of Education, Mr. Jacob Kor, has appealed to teachers to adopt the psychological way of instilling discipline in students instead of the use of cane which should be every teacher’s last option in correcting a child.

He urged teachers to reduce or if possible stop canning to help create the conducive environment for easy teaching and learning.

Mr. Kor was speaking at the 14th Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the University of Cape Coast Primary and Junior High School (UPJHS) on the theme “Creating a Conducive Environment for teaching and learning; a shared responsibility.”

He described the excessive use of the cane and other severe bodily punishment of students as “unacceptable” adding that the presence of a cane might submerge the easy flow of teacher/student communication and inhibit efforts to unearth the inherent talents of learners.

He called for re-visiting of the old-age tradition where adults could correct children without permission from their parents and “Bringing up a child should not be a sole responsibility of parents and teachers but a collective role of the entire society”.

Mr. Kor expressed regret about indiscipline on the part of some teachers who befriended some of the students and warned that any teacher who would be found culpable would be deal with.

He said teachers were instruments of change, hence must adhere to their responsibilities since the destiny and future of the country was in their hands.

Mrs. Kate Frimpong, the Assistant Headmistress, said even though the school was among the best JHS in the country, there were some challenges that needed to be tackled for them to perform more creditably.

She said it needed a library complex, science laboratory and vocational workshop and some of the classrooms which have their roofs leaking needed to be repaired and appealed for assistance.

Mrs Frimpong said the use of mobile phone by some of the students was becoming a difficult challenge to curb in the school she hinted and warned those involved to put an end to the practice or face indefinite suspension.

Prof John Nelson Boah, Pro Vice Chancellor of UCC, appealed to the teachers to adopt a methodology that would suit children of all abilities and avoid discrimination while having time and patience for the slow learners since all students were important.

He said it was only when they have known and performed their respective roles that the child could be holistically be molded and developed as a useful member of society.