Teachers in push for powers to discipline errant students

Teachers will today seek more powers to discipline students at a meeting with education officials.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) officials will meet to review their findings on the causes of fires that have affected over 100 schools and prompted the arrest of more than 200 students and teachers.

A status report on the crisis prepared by secondary school heads also named drug abuse by students, political interference, laws that are too lenient on minor offenders, parents abdicating their responsibility and anxiety over examinations among the causes of unrest in schools.

Prior to their talks, the head teachers will hold talks with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officials in a bid to curb further destruction of property.

But teachers are also expected to complain that they are helpless when it comes to dealing with unruly students, which could be interpreted as making a case for the return of corporal punishment.

"It is getting increasingly difficult to mete out any form of punishment on students as they are heavily protected by the law and some of the regulations," the Kessha report reads in part.

The Basic Education Act (Section 36) outlaws physical punishment and mental harassment, and prescribes a fine not exceeding Sh100,000 or six months' imprisonment for offenders.

"No pupils shall be subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in any manner, whether physical or psychological," says the Act.

The brief by secondary school heads, seen by The Standard, says children have assumed powerful roles in the learning process and even get away with serious crimes.

"Age is also prohibitive. Most students are under 18 years and when presented in courts of law, they are categorised under minors; this slows down punishment," the heads say.

Kessha Chairman John Awiti yesterday confirmed that the National Governing Council (NGC) will meet today to discuss measures of forestalling school unrest. NGC brings together National Executive Committee (NEC) officials and all county chairmen.

Yesterday, 13 students from Lang'ata Boys High School Nairobi were arraigned in a Milimani court in Nairobi following allegations of burning down two dormitories.

More schools

Children's Court Magistrate Lucy Gitari granted the prosecution's application to detain the suspects to conclude investigations and directed the students to be remanded in Kamiti Juvenile Remand for five days (see separate story).

On Monday night, more schools were rocked by chaos including Kibiku Secondary School in Ngong where a laboratory was set on fire.

The Kenya Red Cross Society and police said Aitong Boarding in Narok County, Watuka Boys in Nyeri, Narok High in Narok, Wanguru Girls in Mwea and Kapsara High in Trans Nzoia reported disturbances on Monday.

The findings by the heads mirrors those tabled in the Senate by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.

The reports were generated following a Kessha NEC directive to all 47 county officers to investigate and file their findings on the causes of school arson in their regions.

The Ministry of Education report cited poor communication between teachers and learners, political interference, examination cartels, weak supervision and struggles over school management board memberships.

The findings of the reports touch on principals, school management committees, students, parents and teachers, and will dominate today's discussions.

However, it emerged that drugs and alcohol abuse among students is getting out of hand and principals are worried. Kessha county chairmen who spoke yesterday said the matter must be addressed.

"This is the elephant in the room and it is sad that it is only wished away. We shall discuss these matters and make suggestions," said the official.

The principals' report, however, does not find a strong link between examination cheating and the school fires.

"Some county reports have mentioned it but fail to bring out the clear connection to the fires," said a Kessha official.

The debate to re-introduce corporal punishment has drawn mixed reactions among education stakeholders. Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro and Omboko Milemba of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers have proposed the re-introduction of caning to instill discipline.

But Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion warned that the cane might abuse students' rights.

A senior Ministry of Education official yesterday said today's child had evolved and innovative ways of punishment must be explored.

"The ground has shifted and stricter ways of punishment can be thought through. Letting students know that their choices have stern consequences is important," said the ministry official who did not want to be seen to shape the debate.

And Mr Awiti yesterday steered clear of the corporal punishment debate, saying: "As professionals, we consult widely before we engage. We refuse to discuss these matters in the media until the right time."