The Daily Sun, Lagos, 19 July 2006

Industrialist wants corporal punishment in schools

By Sun News Publishing

The upsurge of hooliganism and presence of cult groups in secondary schools, have been described as a national calamity that must be tackled now to forestall future crisis.

Dr E. W. A. Kukoyi, council member of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry made the observation while fielding questions from the press on the coming August youth camp meeting of Child and World Foundation Inc. in Lagos.

He said: "It is embarrassing hearing of children who are supposed to be busy with their studies getting together to cause havoc at school and giving way to cultism, a monster we are still battling within our higher institutions.

"Where lies the future of this country if children between ages 12 and 15 years are active cult members with serious negative intentions as their objective. What will they become in higher institutions and what then would be the result to themselves, their parents and the nation?

Kukoyi, who is the national president of Association of Nigeria Printers (ANP), made it known that if these children are allowed to grow untamed, future house of assemblies would not only be filled with men and women who are wild cats but dangerous to a point of freely and openly using dangerous weapons to settle state matters.

He therefore called on the State and Federal Government to set up committees that would identify the various moral lapses in the schools that has giving way to the ills and recommend ways and manners to douse the fire before it burst wild on everyone.

"If I am to say, however, I want corporal punishment back in the schools and religious teachings and practices as of old, to be re-introduced as quickly as possible," he said.

© 2006 The Sun Publishing Ltd.