Corpun file 14883

Ghanaweb.com, 29 December 2004

Re-introduce corporal punishment in schools -- opinion leaders

Ekumfi-Attakwaa (C/R), Dec. 29, GNA - Traditional leaders and opinion leaders at Ekumfi-Attakwaa in the Central Region have called for the re-introduction of corporal punishment in schools to help curb indiscipline among pupils.

The suggestion was made at a meeting of the Chiefs, stool elders, representatives of the School Management Committee (SMC) and the Attakwaa Citizens Association at Ekumfi-Attakwaa.

The meeting, which was attended by retired civil servants, university lecturers and farmers among others stressed that the re-introduction of corporal punishment would help instil a high sense of discipline in the youth from the basic school level.

It was to find a solution to acts of indiscipline exhibited by some junior secondary school students and youth in the community recently, which had damaged the reputation of the village.

Ekumfi-Attakwaa had produced more than ten University Professors including the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi (KNUST), Professor Kwesi Andam and other professionals of high repute.

Speakers at the meeting included Nana Amoadu, Odikro of Attakwaa, Mr Paul Amoah of the Department of Primary Education, University of Cape Coast, Mr Kweku Abekah, National Chairman of the Attakwaa Citizens Association, Mr Emmanuel Nkrumah Andam, Managing Director of Andam Technical and Computer Training Institute, Kasoa and Abusuapanyin Addoh. It followed an incident in the town recently in which a sixteen year-old pupil of the Attakwaa Junior Secondary School was alleged to have entered the room of a female teacher unlawfully with a pair of scissors and a cord in the night.

The teacher and her mother also attended the meeting.

The speakers condemned the action of the pupil and promised to do every within their power to protect the teachers to enable them to discharge their duties without fear of intimidation.

Nana Amoadu of the Citizens Association commended the teacher for honouring the invitation to attend the meeting attended by journalists. He said the opinion leaders would not sit down unconcerned for any recalcitrant youth to undermine the hard won image of the village, which could have adverse effect on the flow of investment from the government and NGOs into basic education and other sectors in the area. Mr Nkrumah Andam stated the determination of the community leaders to promote especially basic education and said Professor Andam, one of the national leaders of Attakwaa Citizens Association initiated the meeting for the members and the Chiefs who had been "badly hurt" by the action of the pupil.

Mr Abekah said that the association in collaboration with the traditional leaders would do everything possible to find a lasting solution to the problems of teachers in the area.

Meanwhile, a disciplinary committee had been set up by the Association to supplement the effort of the SMC and the Chiefs to deal with people who would stand in the way to promote education in the village.

The committee would also deal with parents and guardians whose children were caught infringing by-laws to promote education and development in the village.

Source: GNA