East African Standard, Nairobi, 6 March 2002

Human Rights Body Calls for Caning Ban

The Standing Committee on Human Rights yesterday called for a ban on corporal punishment in schools.

The committee's chairman, Prof Onesmus Mutungi, said the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology should effect the ban immediately.

The committee has written to the PS in the Ministry, Prof Japheth Kiptoon, detailing its concerns on this form of punishment. "Continued corporal punishment is causing grave concern," said Mutungi.

He added that this form of punishment had officially been gazetted as banned through a Kenya Gazette Notice No 56/2001.

He added that the teaching fraternity was yet to receive official communication regarding the ban. He said school heads still practise corporal punishment out of ignorance.

Copyright © 2002 The East African Standard.

Follow-up: 8 May 2002 - Caning Still Rampant In Schools