THE BAN ON CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN A SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN GHANA: THE PERSPICACITY OF TEACHERS AT NORTHERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Abstract

The study investigated teachers' perspicacity at the Northern School of Business on the Ban on Corporal Punishment in Senior High Schools in Ghana. This study examined the perceptions of teachers on the policy of no corporal punishment in schools; explore alternative disciplinary methods teachers use and the implications of the ban on corporal punishment policy on students' behaviour. The study employed a descriptive research design using a questionnaire and interview as the major research instruments. The study sampled 30 of the 75 teachers in the school. The responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and figures. The study revealed that most teachers strongly agreed that the ban on corporal punishment is not appropriate for Ghanaian students. Most teachers are not aware of the alternative strategies to deal with students' misbehaviours and therefore consider corporal punishment as the only means of ensuring students' adherence to the rules and regulations governing the school. The study also revealed that the teachers believed that the absence of corporal punishment has led to gross indiscipline among students, resulting in poor academic performance. Therefore, this study recommends that the Ghana Education Service organize a workshop for the teachers on the alternative strategies to deal with students' misbehaviours to ensure discipline in Ghanaian Senior High School. Teachers and educational workers should be sensitized on corporal punishment and its implications on students.