Haruna Iddrisu
The government is set to review the punishment regime in schools and empower the Ghana Education Service (GES) with stronger authority to deal with growing indiscipline among students, Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed.
According to the minister, the increasing incidents of violence, drug abuse, attacks on teachers and other acts of misconduct in educational institutions have reached alarming levels, making it necessary to adopt tougher disciplinary measures.
Haruna Iddrisu made the announcement in Parliament last Thursday while responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Prof. Kingsley Nyarko, who wanted to know the interventions the Ministry of Education had implemented or was considering to promote discipline in educational institutions, particularly at the pre-tertiary level.
The minister admitted that indiscipline in schools had become a major concern, describing many of the incidents as “un-Ghanaian.”
“When you see a Ghanaian student wield a gun or another weapon in a secondary school, that cannot be the training of a Ghanaian child,” he stated.
He said the government was determined to address the situation and would soon outline comprehensive measures to tackle the problem.
Mr. Iddrisu disclosed that he would make a statement in Parliament this week on the growing indiscipline in schools and the interventions the government intends to implement.
He also announced that the Ministry of Education would organise a national conference in Sunyani before the end of July to deliberate on the issue.
The conference, according to him, will bring together academics, teachers, education experts, religious leaders, including representatives of the Christian and Muslim communities, as well as other stakeholders to develop practical solutions to restore discipline in schools.
The minister said recent developments in some schools underscored the urgent need for decisive action.
He cited an incident at Prempeh College where students allegedly pulled down closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed by the school’s old students’ association because they did not want their activities monitored.
“That is indiscipline. That is unacceptable, and heavier sanctions should be meted out to them by the Ghana Education Service,” he stressed.
Haruna Iddrisu attributed part of the growing indiscipline to what he described as laxity in the disciplinary system following the review of corporal punishment practices in schools.
He noted that many students now escape punishment for unacceptable conduct, a situation he believes has emboldened some to engage in misconduct.
The minister also expressed concern about the growing drug menace in some senior high schools, revealing that some students had become bold enough to sell marijuana and other narcotic substances on school campuses.
According to him, students found engaging in drug trafficking in schools should face outright dismissal to prevent them from influencing other students.
He also cited incidents during the recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), where some students allegedly assaulted a teacher for refusing to assist them to cheat during the examination.
He said such conduct demonstrated the need to strengthen the authority of the GES to enforce discipline and deal firmly with students who violate school regulations.
“We may have to rethink and review our punishment regime and clothe the Ghana Education Service with authority to deal ruthlessly with any student who misbehaves and finds himself wanting when it comes to the code of conduct of the school,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the minister said the Ministry of Education and the GES were already implementing several initiatives to strengthen discipline in schools.
These include the introduction of a Behavioural Standards Guide for learners, a revised Teachers’ Code of Conduct, and the drafting of a National Safe School Policy aimed at creating safer and more disciplined learning environments across the country.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House