Summary:

• Magoha maintained that bad students expelled for an offence will not be admitted to other schools
• The CS was reacting to a spiralling surge of student unrest that has hammered schools just 3 weeks after reopening.

Caning could be introduced back into schools to deal with stubborn learners if the Education CS Magoha does his way and reverses regulations that banned corporal punishment.

Magoha says that any student expelled from school for serious mischief may as well forget about learning. Speaking on Thursday while at Kisii, Prof Magoha directed that such students should not be allowed to other schools.

He also instructed schools to reject admission of students who get ousted for gross misconduct. Expelled learners, however, will be entitled to appeal such determinations, and may be granted readmission.

The CS’s directive goes against established government policy on children’s right to education.

Prof. Magoha was reacting to a spiralling surge of student unrest that has hammered learning institutions just 3 weeks after resuming from a long Covid-19 break.

The unrest by students has seen property worth millions of shillings reduced to ashes leading to the closure of several schools across the country.

Several students involved in these misconducts have been arrested, with some facing charges in court.

Yesterday Magoha announced that Health ministry officials will forthwith start touring schools to randomly examine learners for drugs, following suspicion that the indiscipline is being kindled by drug abuse.

“Learners will not commit crimes and walk scot-free, we must curb the situation before it worsens. If learners burn a building or do something wrong, they must be caned hence need to give teachers the power to punish them,” Prof Magoha said.

He was in Kisii County yesterday, where he directed school managers to put in place measures to control juvenile delinquency.

“We are working with the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to ensure that children who commit crimes are investigated, even after school. Those who will be found guilty of burning schools will pay the cost of rebuilding them through their parents,” the CS said, about the report by the DCI that it will formulate a database of student criminals, with such data being used against them in the future.

Corporal punishment was banned in schools in 2001 following enactment of the Children’s Act. The law attempts to defend children from violence and abuse.

Section 191 (2) of the Act pronounces that no child offender shall be subjected to corporal punishment.”

Corporal punishment

Just 2 days ago, a section of the clergy in Migori asked Magoha to reintroduce corporal punishment.

Accompanied by Bethel Church of East Africa Cardinal Tobias Okumu, the church officers said that the government policy to ban corporal punishment in schools had led to excessive indiscipline among learners.

Students abusing drugs are most likely to burn down or damage school property according to the CS. He directed teachers to get ready for offhand visits by health officers accompanied by administrators from his ministry.

Education stakeholders have complained that learners could have been pinned to drugs while at home for the long Covid-19 break.

“We will soon find out students who are on active drug abuse. Some students could be abusing drugs in school after having easy access to them while at home,” Magoha said.

He directed teachers and Boards of Managements to discipline learners. Magoha blamed some parents of failing in their tasks noting that parents whose children burn down schools and damage property will be held accountable for rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure.

adding that teachers should be proactive in making sure students comply with the school rules.

Teachers will be expected to observe learners’ progress and inspect every corner of their institutions where drugs could be hidden.

“Some parents have failed in their role of bringing up their children. A child needs your time, not your money. Some think that teachers have the magic to control their children,” Prof Magoha observed. He said