The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced a raft of measures aimed at tackling growing indiscipline in schools, following a series of disturbing incidents involving students across the country.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Iddrisu described recent cases of students carrying firearms to school, vandalising CCTV cameras, selling cannabis on campuses and assaulting teachers during the conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as unacceptable.
He warned that such acts threaten not only the country’s education system but also its social values, stressing that urgent interventions are needed to restore discipline in schools.
To address the situation, the Minister announced that government will organise a national conference before the end of July to develop practical solutions to the growing challenge.
The conference will bring together academics, educationists, religious leaders, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for strengthening discipline in educational institutions.
Mr. Iddrisu stressed that instilling discipline is a collective responsibility and should not be left to the Ghana Education Service (GES) alone.
“Parenting and socialisation are shared responsibilities involving the father, the teacher and the community,” he told Parliament.
The Minister also disclosed that government is reviewing the disciplinary framework within the education sector to strengthen the authority of school heads and the GES in dealing with student misconduct.
Under the proposed reforms, students who vandalise school property, including CCTV installations, or assault teachers could face stiffer sanctions, while those found dealing in narcotic substances on school campuses may be dismissed.
“A drug dealer on campus will poison the rest,” Mr. Iddrisu said, insisting that school authorities must be empowered to deal decisively with serious breaches of school regulations.
He argued that changes to disciplinary procedures over the years have weakened enforcement in schools, creating what he described as a culture of indiscipline.
According to him, the Ghana Education Service must be “clothed with authority to deal ruthlessly” with students who violate established rules.
On school security, the Minister said the Ministry of Education is collaborating with the Ministry for the Interior and the Narcotics Control Commission to dismantle drug networks operating in educational institutions.
He cited Prempeh College as an example, noting that although the school’s alumni installed CCTV cameras to improve campus security, some students allegedly vandalised the equipment.
The incident, he said, underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement measures and behavioural reforms in schools.
Mr. Iddrisu maintained that restoring discipline is critical to protecting the country’s future, stressing that schools must remain safe environments for teaching, learning and character development.
The Minister also reiterated government’s commitment to improving teacher welfare, including introducing incentives to encourage teachers to accept postings to rural and underserved communities.
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