The push to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools has suffered a major setback after Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno firmly rejected calls to bring back caning, insisting that the responsibility of instilling discipline lies with parents and not teachers.
Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony for Kisumu City KNUT Branch Chairman Evans Odhiambo Dola at Nyahera Village in Kisumu West Sub-county, Otieno said the union would not support any attempt to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools, arguing that teachers are employed to teach and not to discipline learners.
“It is the law that corporal punishment should not be in schools, and we will not allow its reintroduction. Those who want to punish children should do so at home. Let parents discipline their children before sending them to school. Teachers are trained to teach, not to discipline students. Parents should bring to us children who are already disciplined,” said Otieno.
His remarks come amid growing public debate over student indiscipline following a series of school unrest incidents that have seen learning institutions destroyed by fire in recent weeks. Several political leaders have since called for the return of the cane as a deterrent against indiscipline.
However, Otieno maintained that schools should not shoulder the burden of correcting unruly behaviour, urging teachers to send indisciplined learners back home for corrective action by their parents.
“We urge all teachers that if they identify a student who is indisciplined, they should send that student home to be disciplined. Once the child reforms, they can be accepted back to school. We will not allow ourselves to be used. That is not our work,” he said.
The KNUT official further challenged the government to explain deductions made from teachers’ salaries last month, claiming that educators were shocked to find an additional KSh180 deducted as Pay As You Earn (PAYE).
Otieno questioned the basis of the deduction, noting that salary increments under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement are expected to take effect in July.
“We want the government to explain why teachers were subjected to an additional PAYE deduction of KSh180 last month. Such deductions should only arise when there is a salary increase, and that increment is expected in July. The government should refund the money deducted from teachers,” he added.
His comments added to a growing list of grievances raised by teachers, including concerns over taxation and delayed implementation of negotiated salary adjustments.
