The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), Kofi Asare, has welcomed the Ministry of Education’s decision to review Ghana’s school discipline framework, stressing that effective discipline must extend beyond punishment to promoting positive behaviour and accountability.
Speaking on the Gold Morning Show, Mr. Asare said the review comes at a critical time, citing growing concerns over indiscipline in schools.
“Discipline is not just about punishment. That is why the Ministry is reviewing the entire framework to make it much more responsive to the worrying signals from our schools,” he said.
He disclosed that education stakeholders are expected to meet later this month in Sunyani to develop practical recommendations aimed at strengthening discipline across Ghana’s schools.
According to Mr. Asare, an effective disciplinary system should strike a balance between rewarding good behaviour and imposing sanctions that discourage misconduct.
He also called for the reorientation of teachers, arguing that corporal punishment should no longer be viewed as the primary response to indiscipline.
Mr. Asare further advocated granting school authorities the power to dismiss students whose conduct poses a serious threat to the safety and order of their schools.
“That power shouldn’t be with the Ghana Education Service headquarters,” he said. “Once we centralise the power to dismiss students at the GES headquarters, we weaken the authority of school leaders.”
He warned that the current arrangement delays disciplinary action in serious cases involving violence, drug-related offences, and abuse, thereby undermining discipline and emboldening misconduct among students.
Mr. Asare also proposed that the Ghana Education Service (GES) develop a standardised code of discipline to guide all schools nationwide, ensuring consistency in disciplinary measures across the education system.
He emphasised that teachers must be fully involved in the reform process and adequately supported, noting that their commitment will be essential to the successful implementation of any new disciplinary framework adopted after the stakeholders’ conference.
Story by: Ruth Quaye
