The Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr. William Kwame Amankra Appiah, has renewed calls for stronger parental involvement in tackling the growing problem of indiscipline among students in Ghanaian schools.
Dr. Appiah made these remarks on the sidelines of the official launch of the 80th anniversary celebrations of St. Monica’s Senior High School, held at the Amonoo Neizer Centre at KNUST.
He stressed that while schools are responsible for delivering academic instruction, the moral upbringing of students begins at home and must be reinforced through close collaboration between parents and educators.
To curb violence and misconduct, Dr. Appiah disclosed that the Ghana Education Service has introduced a two-year ban on all sporting and cultural activities for any school whose students engage in vandalism or violent acts during inter-school competitions.
He further warned that students found culpable of examination malpractice, including offences during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), will face prosecution in court, rather than being subjected solely to internal disciplinary measures.
Dr. Appiah urged parents to consistently counsel their children against negative peer influence and to take a deliberate and sustained interest in their behaviour, particularly for students in boarding schools who spend long periods away from home.
Condemning what he described as “open-for-all” fights between rival schools, he cited recent incidents in which students physically attacked one another. He reminded students that discipline and focus on their studies remain the surest path to personal success and a secure future.
