SHS students to require testimonial to be eligible for university – Dr. Adutwum
The Ministry of Education has announced its commitment to eradicating indiscipline in Senior High Schools (SHS) across Ghana in response to the alarming increase in student violence.
This initiative was highlighted during the 2024 Ghana Teacher Prize event by the Minister of Education, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, as he outlined several measures aimed at addressing this growing concern.
“We want zero tolerance for indiscipline in our high schools,” Dr. Adutwum stated, expressing the Ministry’s resolve to bring an end to incidents where students go on rampages, destroying school property.
He further explained that the Ministry is collaborating with tertiary institutions to introduce stricter measures.
One such measure includes requiring students moving from SHS to universities or training colleges to provide a testimonial on their character, serving as a key factor in admissions.
“Indiscipline should not be tolerated anywhere in our schools,” Dr. Adutwum emphasized, calling for greater accountability in students’ behavior.
The issue of rising indiscipline in SHSs has become a matter of public concern, with recent violent incidents stirring public discourse.
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A notable case occurred at O’Reilly Senior High School, where one student fatally stabbed a classmate, bringing to the forefront the dangers posed by unchecked aggression among students.
Such incidents have also involved students attacking teachers and vandalizing school property in protest against decisions they deemed unfavorable. These acts of indiscipline have raised alarm among education stakeholders, prompting a unified call for action.
The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Tanko Musah, voiced his concerns, highlighting how today’s students often display disturbing behavior, sometimes with the encouragement of their parents.
“The kind of behavior that students are displaying today is terrible. They beat teachers sometimes with the backing of their parents. These unfortunate incidents, if not curbed, will create big problems in the years to come,” he warned.
With these interventions, the Ministry of Education hopes to foster a culture of respect, discipline, and accountability within Ghana’s senior high schools, ensuring a safer environment for both students and teachers.
As the measures are rolled out, it is expected that they will bring an end to the wave of violence and indiscipline, restoring order in the nation’s educational institutions.
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