Caning of children is not right- Research Officer

January 24, 2011 Nsoatre (B/A) Jan. 24, GNA - Mr Sylvester Kyei Gyamfi, Senior Research Officer at the Department of Children of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, at the weekend warned teachers and parents against caning of children.

He said even though corporal punishment in schools was not illegal any person who used the cane excessively on a child would be prosecuted.

Mr Gyamfi gave the warning when he addressed the chiefs and people at public forums at Nsoatre in Sunyani West and Kato in Berekum Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region on corporal punishment in schools and at homes.

He said any punishment to be meted out to pupils in school should be administered by school heads.

Mr Gyamfi said research had revealed that caning in schools had resulted in school dropouts and truancy among pupils.

He said corrective measures were the most effective way to promote discipline among children in schools and at homes.

Mr Gyamfi appealed to parents to endeavour to provide their children especially teenage girls with their necessities including teaching and learning materials to sustain their interest in schools.

Mrs Florence Ayisi Quartey, Assistant Research Officer at the Department advised children to be God fearing and to regard every adult as a parent.

She said by so doing they would win the confidence of their teachers and be taught in a more responsible manner so that they would grow to acquire good positions in the society.

Mrs Quartey reminded children that God admonished them to honour their fathers and mothers so that they would live longer and obtain blessings.

At Kato, Nana Afia Siraa Ababio, Queen mother, asked parents not to shirk their responsibilities and to ensure that their children grow to become assets and not liabilities to the State.

She observed that the upsurge of armed robbery, drug abuse and acts of immorality among the youth could be traced to child neglect.

Nana Ababio advised parents to enrol their children of school going-age in school.

Mr Hammond Oppong Kwarteng, Regional Director of the Department of Children express regret that child neglect had gained prominence in the region.

He appealed to the public to report any incident of child abuse and neglect to the department for the law to take its course.

Mr Kwarteng stressed the need to revisit some old traditional practices that sought to promote discipline among the youth.

GNA