Rising Indiscipline in Ghana’s Senior High Schools: Urgent Policy Reforms Needed – Aheto-Tsegah

By
Ellis Ferdinand
-
Two Final Year GHANA ADISCO Students fight bloody in the Dormitory
Two Final Year ADISCO Students fight bloody in the Dormitory

Ferdinand | EducationGhana |  February 28| Rising Indiscipline in Ghana’s Senior High Schools: Urgent Policy Reforms Needed – Aheto-Tsegah

Former GES Director-General Charles Aheto-Tsegah warns of rising indiscipline in Ghana’s Senior High Schools, calling for urgent policy reforms, stronger leadership, and parental involvement.

 

Ghana’s Senior High Schools Facing a Discipline Crisis – Aheto-Tsegah Calls for Urgent Reforms

Ghana’s Senior High Schools (SHS) are struggling with increasing cases of student indiscipline, prompting calls for urgent policy changes to restore order and improve school management.

Charles Aheto-Tsegah, former Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has attributed the situation to weak school leadership, ineffective disciplinary policies, and political interference in school governance.

Speaking on Citi FM on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, he stressed the need for a reassessment of school discipline policies to ensure a structured and effective approach to managing student behavior.

Rising Cases of Indiscipline in Senior High Schools

While student misconduct is not a new phenomenon, Mr. Aheto-Tsegah warned that the frequency and intensity of indiscipline-related incidents in Ghanaian SHSs are increasing at an alarming rate.

Recent incidents include:

✔️ February 2025: Sokode Senior High Technical School was closed indefinitely after violent clashes erupted among students.


✔️ March 2024: A deadly brawl between students of Christian Methodist SHS and Ngleshie Amanfro SHS resulted in the loss of two students’ lives.


✔️ 2022: Akro Senior High Technical School students lynched a suspected thief, leading to retaliatory attacks from local residents.

These incidents highlight the urgent need for policy intervention to curb rising cases of violence, misconduct, and defiance among students.

RELATED LINKS

 

Leadership and Political Interference

Mr. Aheto-Tsegah pointed out that political interference in school management has resulted in the appointment of inexperienced individuals to key leadership roles.

“Some individuals are given leadership roles without the necessary experience, affecting school governance,” he stated.

He argued that administrative protocols have weakened the authority of school heads, making it difficult for them to enforce discipline effectively.

He called for structured leadership training for school administrators to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals are appointed to manage disciplinary enforcement and school governance.

Challenges in Disciplinary Enforcement

Mr. Aheto-Tsegah also identified several policy changes that have made it difficult for teachers and administrators to discipline students effectively.

🔹 Ban on traditional corrective measures – Previously, students were made to weed or perform supervised labor as punishment, but these disciplinary actions have been restricted.
🔹 Rising student populations – The increase in SHS enrollment has made supervision and discipline enforcement more challenging.
🔹 Parental interference – Some parents openly defy school rules and challenge disciplinary measures, making it harder for school authorities to maintain order.

He urged the government to review disciplinary policies, ensuring that schools have the flexibility to implement effective corrective measures while still protecting students’ rights.

Recommendations to Restore Discipline in SHSs

Mr. Aheto-Tsegah outlined key recommendations to address the growing indiscipline crisis in Ghana’s Senior High Schools:

Strengthen School Leadership and Authority

🔹 Empower school heads with the authority to discipline students effectively.
🔹 Implement leadership training programs to equip head teachers with the skills needed to manage student conduct.

 Revise Disciplinary Policies

🔹 Conduct a comprehensive review of current disciplinary measures and introduce structured corrective actions.
🔹 Allow schools to tailor discipline policies to their specific needs while aligning with national guidelines.

 Increase Parental Involvement

🔹 Encourage greater parental engagement in school discipline programs.
🔹 Educate parents on the importance of enforcing discipline at home to support school policies.

Enhance Guidance and Counselling Services

🔹 Strengthen guidance and counselling units in schools to provide alternative disciplinary approaches focused on student reform rather than punishment.
🔹 Introduce mentorship programs to help students develop positive behavior and self-discipline.

Address Political Interference in School Appointments

🔹 Ensure that school heads and administrators are appointed based on merit rather than political influence.
🔹 Establish a transparent process for selecting school leaders with relevant experience in education management.

A Collective Responsibility

Restoring discipline in Ghana’s Senior High Schools requires a collaborative effort from:
✔️ School authorities – To enforce structured disciplinary measures.
✔️ Government policymakers – To review and reform disciplinary policies.
✔️ Parents – To actively support school discipline policies.
✔️ Students – To take responsibility for their behavior.

Mr. Aheto-Tsegah urged all education stakeholders to take immediate action in strengthening school management and ensuring effective disciplinary enforcement to curb rising cases of misconduct in Senior High Schools.

OTHER IMPORTANT STORIES

Discover more from EducationGhana

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

What's your take on this Latest Development?