The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, is calling for urgent reforms that would empower secondary schools to dismiss students whose actions threaten the safety and discipline of the school environment.
Amid growing reports of violence and lawlessness among students, Mr. Asare argued that current disciplinary approaches are outdated and insufficient to deal with the scale of the crisis.
He made the call in a post on X (formerly Twitter), urging a more assertive response to worsening indiscipline in schools.
“Schools must have the power to dismiss students whose conduct threatens safety and order. That’s a solution that matches the times,” he wrote.
His comments come as teacher unions renew calls for the reintroduction of corporal punishment to curb what they describe as “radicalized” student misbehaviour.
While acknowledging that the ban on corporal punishment may have contributed to the erosion of discipline in schools, Mr. Asare maintained that reintroducing the cane alone would be inadequate to address the gravity of the current challenges.
“I agree with the Teacher Unions that the ban on corporal punishment has contributed to the heightened levels of indiscipline but what is a cane to a student armed with a weapon? The problem has outgrown the punishment,” he cautioned.
Between January and February 2025, at least five violent incidents were recorded in senior high schools across the country, including clashes at Kinbu Secondary Technical, Kumasi Technical Institute, Salaga SHS, Islamic SHS, and Sokode SHS.
These incidents reportedly involved the use of weapons, led to injuries, and in some cases forced temporary school closures.
In another incident in February 2025, over 30 students of Sawla SHS were indefinitely suspended for breaching school rules, including the possession of mobile phones and engaging in immoral conduct.
Earlier, in March 2024, a deadly altercation between students of Christian Methodist SHS and Ngleshie Amanfro SHS claimed the lives of two students, highlighting the deadly consequences of unchecked violence within the education system.
Mr. Asare’s call adds to growing national concern over the safety and integrity of Ghana’s schools. He is urging stakeholders to move beyond outdated punitive measures and empower school authorities with legal backing to take firm action when student behavior endangers others.
“This is no longer a matter of just discipline—it’s a matter of safety and survival for both students and staff,” he emphasized.
