By Nasratu Kargbo
As the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education bans corporal punishment in schools across the country, Teachers, parents, and heads of schools have reacted to the latest development with mixed feelings.
Speaking to Politico, the Principal of Dr. June Secondary School, Mohamed Abdulai Kemokai said he had always been against flogging and severe punishment in his school and so to him, the initiative was a welcome idea. However, he said African children are very stubborn and difficult to handle, and that if they are aware of the existence of such law that protects them, they will no longer take things seriously including their school work.
Therefore, he said the ministry should dialogue with school authorities in order to debate on a suitable replacement of corporal punishment for the good of the children and the schools as well.
In an interview with Politico, the Principal of Ahmadiyya Muslim Primary School Godrich, Adiatu M. Dauda, said she fears such law will have a negative effect on the relationship between the pupils and the teachers. She said there will be little or no fear left in the pupils for neither the school authorities nor the school regulations which will in the end breed a bad set of pupils.
However, she said the ban has both negative and positive effects as corporal punishment may scare away some children from schools while some need some iron hands to be put under control.
“I am on the fence,” she said, adding that corporal punishment should not be abolished totally; rather it there should be a moderate punishment and this will only be given to a child when he or she has commits something grave.
Mohamed Jabbie a businessman and father of five said children should not be given heavy punishment.
He emphasized that severe flogging and certain punishments that might affect the child such as lifting of chairs and desks, kneeling in the sun, etc. Should not be encouraged in schools.
He said the Ministry should put mechanisms in place in order for the teachers to be trained very well; stating that if corporal punishment is to be replaced with something else, then it should be well communicated and taught so the teachers would know what is involved.
On his part, the President of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union who also doubles as the Principal for the Muslim Congress Senior Secondary School Mohamed Salieu Bangura embraced the idea stating that “this is the trend in different countries and we should follow suit. I believe a child can be sober without beating him or her”.
However, he called on parents to train their children well, he explained that most parents cannot discipline their children and mostly rely on the schools to discipline their wards for them. The President said teachers are not machines to beat and punish the pupils; rather teachers are “instruments to impart knowledge.” He implored the media to talk to parents and also added that they would also talk to parents during their usual CTA meetings about discipline in the home.
Bangura said most parents see their sons leave home with haircuts that are not allowed in schools, some go to school with their trousers at the apex of their buttocks, whiles others show signs of drugs, without monitoring or taking action.
That notwithstanding, he said a child who complies with the rules and regulations of the school will remain in the school, whiles those who do not abide can be sent home. He explained that teachers have been using the rod because of the way some pupils behave, according to him “some students disrupt the school system, that is why the teachers use the cane, but with this law, I believe sending them home will be the best strategy. I say this because if this proposed law goes to parliament and becomes a law, then if a teacher flogs that child he or she would have to face the law.”
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (22/09/21)
