“CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS ILLEGAL” CHRAJ

Teachers and parents have been asked to avoid the use of corporal punishment and find civil means of disciplining children since the act breach article 28 clause 3 of the 1992 constitution which says ‘A child shall not be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.’

Mrs Joy Animah Debrah, a Senior Public Education officer at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), made the call on Monday at the start of a two day training workshop for 55 patrons of human rights clubs drawn from schools in the Volta and Eastern regions in Ho.

According to Mrs Animah Debrah, corporal punishment such as canning which is administered mostly through anger have not proven to be effective as a means of training children over the years.

She said the continuous use of the cane in schools imprints on the minds of children that cruelty is the best way in resolving problems and urged head-teachers to advise their staff to stop the use of canes in schools.

Mrs, Debrah advised parent to incorporate children in decision making and not just imposed things on them since they are growing and they should be help to grow properly. She also advised teachers and parents to desist from verbally abusing children.

Mr. Samuel Bosompem, deputy director of Public Education at CHRAJ and a facilitator at the workshop, said human right is about the behaviour of persons and therefore urged teachers and parents to live exemplary behaviours for children to emulate.

The Volta Regional Director of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Nuertey, on his part urged the patrons to respect and protect the rights of children at school and also be on the lookout for human and child rights abuses at schools and address or refer them to the appropriate authorities for redress.
click to listen Mrs. Debrah.