The General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) Rev Emmanuel T. Barrigah has expressed concern over the Ghana Education Service’s (GES’s) policy to abolish Corporal Punishment in basic and senior high schools across the country.
According to him, corporal punishment should not be taken out completely, but must be measured in the way school authorities administer it.
Referencing one of the popular verses in the Bible; Proverbs 13:24: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes,” Rev Barrigah said, GES should not take it out completely since it could increase indiscipline in the country. He said in an interview with GPCC communication staff.
Increase Indiscipline
He noted that, authorities should not administer it in a way that would injure or hurt the child, but should be done in a way or manner which would serve as a deterrent to others.
Rev. Barrigah who doubles as a Head Pastor of the Global Evangelical Church mentioned that, there are several ways a child could be punished which would serve as a deterrent to other students.
Giving an instance, he pointed out that, teachers could keep students in class to read while their colleagues played instead of always caning the culprits.
“Corporal punishment should not be completely banned but rather controlled as it shapes some students as well as minimize indiscipline in our country,” he stressed.
According Rev Barrigah, he believes that teachers and authorities could be coached on various ways they could punish students when they erred, stressing that caning as the only punitive measure would not be the best practice.
Hence, taking out corporal punishment completely would increase the rate of indiscipline in the country.
Background
The GES through its guidance and counseling unit is set to implement what it calls the Positive Disciplinary Tools in basic and Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.
This, it says, is to focus on building a safe and protective educational environment devoid of the use of canes and corporal punishment as approved by UNICEF.
The implementation of the policy will see a total ban on the use of canes and corporal punishment in basic and senior high schools.
Source: GPCC
Richard Dapaah