By Christopher Tetteh
Sunyani (Bono), July 29, GNA – Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has attributed the growing trend of indiscipline in schools partly to the influence of new media.
“Social media is impacting negatively on our children,” he said, expressing concern about the erosion of Ghanaian culture and values through social media.
Prof Davis made the remarks when he opened a panel discussion on the sidelines of a national conference on tackling indiscipline in schools in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, is expected to officially open the two-day conference, which seeks to discuss and propose lasting solutions and develop a roadmap to address indiscipline and transform the nation’s education sector.
The conference, on the theme: “Stemming the Growing Indiscipline in Schools in an Emerging World,” will also develop school safeguarding policies, guidelines and codes of conduct for teachers and students.
Participants include Directors of Education, teachers, parents, traditional and religious leaders, education managers, university vice-chancellors, Circuit Court judges, commanders of the security services, Members of Parliament (MPs), teacher unions, students, officials of the GES, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana TVET Service, as well as other stakeholders in education.
“We must all come together and ensure that foreign values do not overcome and replace the rich Ghanaian moral values,” Prof Davis said, stressing that discipline remained the bridge between education and meaningful societal transformation.
He said the GES required the support of faith-based organisations and families to promote discipline among young people in schools and society.
Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, said the strength of educational institutions depended largely on discipline and called for collective efforts to ensure the moral upbringing of students.
“We require collective efforts in ensuring that schools serve as institutions that nurture responsible future leaders,” he said.
Mr Akwaboa observed that increasing cases of student bullying, substance abuse and acts of lawlessness threatened efforts to raise responsible and educated future citizens.
He said the conference marked a turning point in efforts to nurture morally upright students who would become a productive workforce for national development.
Mr Akwaboa said the Government had introduced several interventions to provide students with a conducive environment for academic progress.
He underscored the need to strengthen educational institutions through mentorship, creativity, innovation, skills development, and practical problem-solving, while instilling a high sense of discipline in students.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Audrey Dekal