The Government through the Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched investigations over a viral video of a schoolboy who was recorded pleading for help after being mistreated in school.
The State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr Julius Jwan revealed that the government has begun investigations into the mistreatment meted on a young boy for not attaining 400 marks.
“PS for Early Learning and Basic Education Dr Julius Jwan has said that the government has launched investigations into the cruel treatment of a pupil for not attaining a specific mark. He was responding to a clip where a child complains of cruelty by teachers in internal examinations,” stated the Ministry of Education on Twitter.
The investigations were started after a video doing the rounds online shows the boy complaining about cruelty meted on him by teachers in the school’s internal examination.
The learner complained that he had put up with 11 years in primary school but the beatings were becoming unbearable as teachers demanded 400 marks. A mark that he has not been able to reach.
The student also revealed that nobody could persevere with the beating of learners in the school.
During the promulgation of the 2010 constitution, the Basic Education Act of 2013 prohibited the use of corporal punishment in schools and homes in Kenya.
The education act of 23 Article 4 outlawed gender-based discrimination and mental harassment of the child.
According to the constitution, a person who contravenes these articles will be subjected to a conviction of a fine not exceeding Kshs. 100,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months or both.
Regarding advocating for corporal punishment, Kenya’s Chief Justice Martha Koome said that she is a defender of children’s rights.
“I cannot advocate for corporal punishment, I am a children’s rights defender. What is said is that every school has rules and regulations that are derived from the law because the law outlaws corporal punishment,” said Chief Justice Martha Koome.