By Ernest Nutsugah
Accra, Sept. 12, GNA – A study by the Baraka Policy Institute (BPI), a Social Policy Think Thank, has highlighted access to social media as a major cause of indiscipline in Ghanaian senior high schools (SHSs).
The research, titled: “Tackling the Rising Indiscipline In SHSs In Ghana: The Role of Effective Character Formation” was presented at a stakeholder forum in Accra on Tuesday.
Conducted over a two-year period with data from students and teachers, the study established among other results, that indiscipline was higher in non-mission senior high schools than in mission schools.
It identified stealing, disrespect for authority, and sexual immorality as some of the common acts of indiscipline among students.
Other contributing factors were the absence of religious education, non-enforcement of school codes of conduct, and the absence of counselling services.
The research titled “Tackling the Rising Indiscipline In SHSs In Ghana: The Role of Effective Character Formation” was presented at a stakeholder forum in Accra on Tuesday.
Conducted over a two-year period with data from students and teachers, the study established among other results, that indiscipline was higher in non-mission Senior High Schools than in mission schools.
It identified stealing, disrespect for authority, and sexual immorality as some of the common acts of indiscipline among students. Other contributing factors were the absence of religious education, non-enforcement of school codes of conduct, and the absence of counselling services.
Mr John Azumah, an academic and researcher, who presented the findings, urged policy makers to consider regulating the use of social media among young people, especially teenagers in SHSs.
He also called for increased education on the dangers of irresponsible use social of social media while the Government reviewed the “one-student, one-tablet” policy under the Ghana Smart Schools Project.
Mr Azumah said the report sampled 240 SHSs across the country with over 2,600 respondents in mission and non-mission schools, well-endowed and less-endowed, urban and rural, mixed and single-sex, as well as day and boarding secondary institutions.
He said there was a strong consensus from respondents that mobile phone use and social media access were the leading drivers of indiscipline in SHSs.
“Social media is not just used by students; however, young students are not as mature and they don’t have the discernment as adults. That is why in some countries, there are limitations for certain age groups…this is beyond parents and teachers so government must consider putting in policies to regulate the use of social media at certain ages,” the researcher noted.
According to the study, activities including guidance and counselling sessions and religious group meetings contributed to good character formation among students, and school management must prioritise such programmes.
Mr Azumah emphasised the role of missions and religious bodies in shaping the conduct of students and called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to pay more attention to religious matters in senior high schools.
He said the GES or the Ministry of Education should formally assign religious responsibilities in non-mission schools to specific religious missions.
“Religion contributes to character formation but it can be abused that is why the GES has to keep an eye and take interest in managing that space… we have submitted proposals that there should be no indoctrination, religious matters in schools should be inclusive and not geared towards conversion of students,” Mr Awumah said.
“We need something more than a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that has been signed by the National Peace Council and Heads of Mission Schools.”
The report described the “one-student, one-tablet” policy under the Ghana Smart Schools Project as a policy contradiction, noting that while GES banned phones in schools, students were handed uncustomised tablets, which many headteachers believed contributed to access to social media.
“The tablets are good but if it can be customised not to access certain website, it can be helpful…We can invite an ICT expert to talk to students about the benefits and dangers of social media.”
“School authorities should engage these people rather than just punishing, banning, and ceasing mobile phones, which is not working.”
BPI further called for chaplain and counselor positions in SHS to be made full-time, as many chaplains were either under-resourced, sidelined in school governance structures, or also served as subject teachers.
It further recommended regular refresher training for chaplains and counsellors, as many had little to no theological training.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Writer’s email: [email protected]