Corporal punishment in Secondary schools in Kenya: Issues and challenges

Abstract

Banning of corporal punishment in Kenyan schools since 2001 has sparked intense debate to both parents and teachers on management of discipline in schools. In the recent months after resumption of learning due to Covid-19 Pandemic, many schools have experienced unrest leading to burning of dormitories, classes and even learners assaulting teachers. The study was tasked with the analysis if divergent views on corporal punishment and justice in schools towards character formation. In addition, the study examined the issues and challenges in addressing discipline in secondary schools and finally established whether Kantian ethics can facilitate attaining of character formation and training in Kenyan secondary schools towards disciplined citizenry. The study found out that corporal punishment is still being used in secondary schools in Kenya despite the ban because of the cultural and ethos orientation despite the government advocating for contemporary forms of discipline and effective guidance and counselling in schools. The study found out that despite the retributive theoretical orientation, Kantian ethics can equally facilitate the character education and training of the young towards moral values and disciplined citizens. The study recommended for the revitalised teacher training and capacity building in a humanization education and training towards adoption of multidimensional approaches in handling discipline issues in the school set up for instance pastoral programme, Chaplaincy services, Volunteer /charity works to expose learners to realities that meet their attention to deviate their naive way of looking at reality. In addition, involving students in formulating school rules and regulations alongside each penalty to re orient learners towards sound moral judgment of their acts.