The General Secretary of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), Capson K. Raphael, has expressed grave concern over the growing trend of indiscipline in Ghanaian schools, following the recent dismissal of 20 final-year students of Ada Senior High School in the Greater Accra Region.
The students were sacked after sneaking off campus to swim in a nearby river, an incident that led to the tragic drowning of one of their colleagues.
Speaking in an interview with Lily Mohammed on GHToday on GHOne TV on Monday, June 23, 2025, Mr. Raphael emphasized that indiscipline is not limited to the school setting but often stems from the home. According to him, both environments play a significant role in shaping the behavior and character of students.
“Indiscipline, whether at home or in school, is behavior that disrupts the learning environment, disobeys rules and regulations, or shows a lack of respect for authority,” he stated. “These are realities we’re facing today, students skipping classes, bullying, destruction of property, and even aggression towards teachers.”
Mr. Raphael noted that the issue of indiscipline has become so serious that even the Minister of Education has publicly expressed concern. However, he lamented that policies aimed at addressing student behavior are often crafted without meaningful input from parents and PTAs.
“We are more concerned than some of the stakeholders in education,” he said. “When the Ministry of Education and GES are developing policies, they often sideline the PTA Council yet parents are critical partners in education.”
Reacting to public criticism that the school’s decision to dismiss the students was too harsh, Mr. Raphael firmly defended the action, stressing that a life was lost due to the students’ disregard for rules.
“How do you define harsh when a life has been lost? If I entrust my child to a school and something happens to them because of negligence, who should be held responsible?” he questioned. “The school must uphold its code of conduct, and actions must have consequences.”
He called for a national dialogue on how discipline is enforced in schools, suggesting a review of current policies to ensure they are culturally relevant and effective. He also encouraged a return to core values of respect, humility, and accountability are traits he believes are being lost in today’s youth.
Mr. Raphael concluded by emphasizing that education is a shared responsibility between the home, the school, and the broader community. “When homes and schools collaborate, we can raise students who respect authority and care for one another. That is how we build a disciplined and responsible society.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
