Caning of pupils has "drastically reduced" – GES

Instances of caning pupils and students have drastically reduced in Ghana’s schools, the Ghana Education Service has said.

Public Relations Officer of the Service, Charles Parker Allotey told Morning Starr host Kafui Dey Friday that the reduction in that form of corporal punishment has come about as a result of strict regulations concerning the administration of such punishment.

“The incidence of caning of children has drastically reduced in our schools: we don’t see such cases as we used to, but I’m not saying that it is a perfect situation…” Mr Allotey said.

He made the assertion when commenting on a recent case of gross abuse of some pupils in a private school at Wassa Akropong in the Western region.

A female Teacher is captured on a secret video recording stamping on two pupils who were lying prostrate on the floor as punishment.

She has been fined Ghc1,200 by a Court after the case was exposed. Mr Parker said such a form of punishment is “abhorrent” but said they rarely occur.

Human rights and child protection organisations have condemned the incident.