Beyond the cane: teachers’ perspectives on the ban of corporal punishment in Ghanaian first-cycle schools

Frimpong-Manso, Kwabena, Kyei-Gyamfi, Sylvester, Kyei Arthur, Frank, Abutima, Theophilus Kwabena, Wiredu Agyekum, Martin, Afranie, Stephen and Erasmus, Victoria (2026) Beyond the cane: teachers’ perspectives on the ban of corporal punishment in Ghanaian first-cycle schools. Child Abuse Review. ISSN 0952-9136

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Abstract

Despite policy advancements, corporal punishment remains prevalent in Ghanaian first-cycle schools, with limited empirical data on caning practices and teacher attitudes toward the national ban. This study examines the prevalence of corporal punishment, educators' perspectives on its prohibition and influencing factors. Conducted across 10 administrative regions in Ghana, the research purposively sampled 60 first-cycle schoolteachers (68.3% female and 31.7% male) and gathered data through in-depth interviews, analysed thematically. Findings reveal an even split in attitudes toward the ban, with 50% supporting and 50% opposing it. Female teachers exhibited a higher inclination toward corporal punishment, reflecting pressures to assert authority in male-dominated classrooms. The results underscore the complexity of disciplinary practices and highlight the need for targeted interventions and policy reforms to promote non-violent methods, ensuring a safe learning environment for all students.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: corporal punishment, teacher attitudes, school discipline, child protection, Ghana
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: The School of Health, Sciences and Society
Depositing User: Kwabena Frimpong-Manso
Date Deposited: 01 Jun 2026 09:33
Last Modified: 01 Jun 2026 09:33
URI: https://oars.uos.ac.uk/id/eprint/5595

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