By James Wakahiu
A section of leaders and educationists have ruled out the re-introduction of the caning in schools as a remedy for student unrest.
Led by Kieni MP Kanini Kega, they said instead parents should reclaim their role of inculcating discipline in their children if the recurrent destruction of school property by learners is to be contained.
“It is unfortunate that parents have neglected their very crucial role of instilling discipline to their children and left the responsibility to teachers. This attitude which is largely to blame for the madness we are witnessing of students burning down schools must change,” said the legislator.
Kega, a former student of Chinga Boys High School in Nyeri County spoke during a get-together by the old boys in honour of their former Principal Riachi Mang’ara at the Thika Greens golf resort in Thika.
The school’s old boys attending the occasion, most of whom are professionals in public and the private sector, said it was wrong for parents to assume teachers would take up their responsibilities.
They resolved to make frequent visits to their former school to counsel and guide the current students on how to avoid cases of unrest and general indiscipline.
Another former student of the school Samuel Wambugu who is US based Professional blamed the students’ unrest on the parents while Julius Wahome (Nigeria-based engineer) blamed it on social media saying parents should be wary on what kind of a stuff their children are watching.
