The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has blamed the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the growing indiscipline in schools, citing restrictive rules that have left teachers feeling powerless.
According to NAGRAT, the limitations on disciplinary measures have contributed to the rise in unruly behaviour among students.
NAGRAT’s call for increased authority comes in the wake of a tragic incident at O’Reilly Senior High School (SHS) where a student was fatally stabbed by a colleague during an argument on September 3.
The union’s President, Angel Carbonu, emphasized the need for school authorities to have the autonomy to enforce discipline effectively, preventing such incidents from occurring.
Mr. Carbonu expressed concerns that the advocacy for human rights by certain groups has inadvertently curtailed teachers’ ability to maintain order in the classroom.
He argued that the restrictions have made teachers “toothless bulldogs,” unable to take decisive action against misbehaving students.
“We need to strike a balance between protecting the rights of students and maintaining discipline in our schools. The current situation is creating an environment where students feel they can get away with anything, and it’s putting the entire education system at risk” Mr. Carbonu said.
NAGRAT is urging the GES to review its policies and grant teachers more authority to expel students involved in fighting and other serious misconduct.
The union believes that this will help restore order in schools and ensure a safe learning environment for all students.
The incident at O’Reilly Senior High School has sparked a national conversation about discipline in schools, with many calling for a more effective approach to addressing indiscipline.
NAGRAT’s demand for increased authority is seen as a crucial step towards reclaiming the authority of teachers and maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment.
Source: Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa
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