KUCHING: Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) is not in favour of the proposal to make child caning a criminal offence, suggesting that a survey be carried out to gauge public response first.
STU president Jisin Nyud said the proposal made by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to introduce a new act to replace the Child Act 2001 and make child caning unlawful would be a mistake considering that caning has been a strict yet effective form of student discipline over the past 50 years.
He believed that many teachers and parents would disagree with the proposal, explaining that it is not appropriate to jump to a conclusion that banning child caning would discipline students or children.
“Just look at the product of schools in the olden days, for example those in the mission schools where caning was carried out to discipline students. Most of them are now successful and they are leaders.
“Times have changed and values such as respect and discipline have eroded compared to the 60s, 70s and 80s. We can observe the difference over the years be it in school or at home.
“It is compulsory that we restore discipline in the next generation at an early age. I feel that the fear of the cane is one of the ways to tame these little ‘monsters’ before they get worse and get out of control,” he said unabashedly when contacted recently.
Jisin was responding to a recent proposal by the federal Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk
Seri Rohani Abdul Karim to make caning a criminal offence in the Child Act 2015 to replace the Child Act 2001.
The caning issue has caused a public furore but the ministry, according to Bernama, has clarified that the provision was not meant to outlaw all forms of caning.
Rohani clarified that the new bill would include detailed provision in the new legislation on acts which could cause physical or mental injury to children, and what constituted ‘caning’.
On a personal note, Jisin added that discipline has become more difficult to handle and that both teachers and parents have a tough time keeping child discipline intact.
Explaining the relevance of maintaining the caning method as a form to uphold discipline, he mentioned that students are informed and made to understand why they should be caned. Schools or teachers do not use caning everytime but there are times when caning is effective especially when dealing with stubborn or rebellious students.
“There is no other reason (to cane a student) besides to transform them into better persons. Apart from that, it is not due to hate but because of love. We all want these kids to grow up fine and that they know right from wrong.
“Before this act is tabled, a survey needs to be carried out for response from all walks of life,” he continued.
Jisin has been a strong advocate for student caning as a form of discipline in the classroom. Last April, he was reported in The Borneo Post as saying that teachers should be given greater empowerment to tackle disciplinary problems.
He suggested that caning be brought back to the classroom in cases of very bad behaviour. If the school authorities do not inculcate values in students, sooner or later they will have no respect for teachers.