Caning not abolished in schools ? Ameyaw-Akumfi

The Times reports Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), as saying caning as a form of punishment for offending pupils, is not prohibited as some parents and guardians think, and therefore assault teachers who flog their errant wards.

"It is allowed for certain degree of offences and must be administered by the head of the institution or his delegated representative", he is quoted as saying when he addressed students and staff of the Berekum Teacher Training College on the decision of the GES on the recent disturbances in the school.

The maximum number of strokes, he said is six and those who resort to caning must record the number of strokes in a book. The Times says at dawn on April 15, this year, some students of the college said to have been prompted by some tutors, agitated that Mr Ben Kuofie, the immediate-past principal, who had proceeded on study leave should be brought back to replace Mr Yaw Agyei-Sarkodie, the acting principal.