The recommendations put forth by the Presidential Working Committee on Education Sector reforms continue to evoke responses, particularly from concerned parties in Thika.
These stakeholders are questioning why the reintroduction of corporal punishment, commonly known as caning, was not included in the committee’s proposals.
Various stakeholders in Thika have expressed a desire for caning to be reinstated in schools, prompting them to wonder about the rationale behind the committee’s decision to dismiss this proposal.
During an alumni association gathering of Gatumaini Primary School in Thika on Saturday, these stakeholders raised concerns about the persisting issues of indiscipline and drug abuse within educational institutions, attributing them to the ban on caning.
Retired educators James Kabugu Ngige and Monicah Ndirangu emphasized that the reintroduction of caning is essential for education sector reform. They underscored its pivotal role in molding a student’s character and future.
“Reintroducing caning was a primary suggestion put forth by numerous stakeholders to the committee. We believed it would effectively address drug abuse and indiscipline in schools. Unfortunately, it seems to have been disregarded. We are hopeful that the Education Ministry will reconsider this aspect,” Ngige stated.
Parents welcomed the reduction of subjects as a positive move, as it would alleviate students from the burden of carrying numerous books and juggling multiple subjects.
The committee streamlined the subjects taught in Junior Secondary from 14 to nine. Lower primary schools will reduce their subjects from nine to seven, while Upper Primary will have eight subjects instead of the current twelve.
Furthermore, there are calls for even more reduction in subjects to allow learners to specialize in specific areas of interest.
However, Teresia Njeri, another retired teacher, criticized the government for the delayed release of teachers’ retirement benefits. She noted that the prolonged processing of these benefits has left retired teachers in a state of distress and uncertainty.
