Health Kenya

Corporal punishment in schools

The DN2 cover story for the Daily Nation today, 17th September 2014 was an article I wrote about corporal punishment.

https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/dn2/corporal-punishment-persists-in-schools-despite-state-ban-1024546

Although the Kenyan law says children should not be beaten in schools, it continues to happen. From the stories I hear, the beatings have gotten worse over the years.

The article was inspired by the lady referred to as Nancy in the story who was extremely stressed by the beatings in this private school in Kilifi. The beatings continue unabated because the school performs well. Many parents have wanted to keep their children in the school but the beatings have caused them to leave. Children have scared legs and fear school. The schools insists that all Standard 8 children are boarders for that last year. They receive thrashings regularly and learn to pass exams. There is no joy in learning.