‘Use alternative means to discipline students rather than the cane’
The Director-General (D-G) of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Jacob Kor, has asked teachers to use alternative means of disciplining students rather than the use of the cane.
Advertisement
“The cane is no more useful in this 21st Century. But spare the rod and spoil the child, so you use it sparingly and occasionally,” he cautioned.
Mr Kor was speaking at the 25th anniversary celebrations and speech and prize-giving day of the Senya Senior High School (SHS) at Senya Beraku in the Central Region.
The event was on the theme: “Building a functional generation through secondary education: The role of stakeholders.” Awards were presented to deserving students.
Patience
The D-G advised teachers to be patient when correcting students.
“Abaa (the cane) would not help. When I was a child I used to be afraid of the cane and so I did not like teachers who used canes. The cane cannot do everything more than good pieces of advice and sweet words,” he said.
Mr Kor assured the school authorities that the rehabilitation and construction of a library and science laboratory among other projects for the school would recieve attention under a World Bank Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP), of which the school was a beneficiary.
Discipline
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hanna Tetteh, said discipline should be the hallmark of every society.
“So I would like to encourage you to be a bit more stringent and strict in ensuring that standards are maintained in this institution,” she said, adding that it was the responsibilities of both parents and teachers to bring the best in their wards.
Ms Tetteh, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Awutu Senya West Constituency, reminded the students on the need to take their studies seriously to enable them to become responsible citizens in future.
“I want all of you to commit yourselves to making this school a centre of excellence to demonstrate that the best can come from Senya.”
Challenges
The Headmistress of the school, Madam Ancilla Mensah-Ashun, said the school with a population of 706 students had recorded some remarkable successes despite its numerous challenges.
“Management is always mindful of the vision and mission of the school in our administration. Our academic performance in spite of all the challenges has been quite remarkable,” she said.
She pledged to “improve upon and sustain the level of discipline with the assistance from our dedicated and disciplined staff.”
The Chairman of the school’s Board of Governors, Rev. DCOP David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin, charged the staff to be diligent in their respective duties.
