The President of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Alhaji Yakub A. B. Abubakar, has disclosed that the level of indiscipline among the student population in school is growing at an alarming rate.

According to him, it is imperative for government to conduct stakeholder consultation to address the rising indiscipline in senior high schools.

Alhaji Abubakar made these revelations in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region at the opening of the 59th Annual Conference of CHASS. He explained that the challenges of child rights and banning of corporal punishment has empowered students particularly in the senior high schools to misbehave and flout school rules and regulations.

Speaking on the theme, “Discipline in our schools and the child rights: The fate of the school head”, Alhaji Abubakar revealed that CHASS was not against the banning of corporal punishment and the promotion of child rights particularly among school children. That notwithstanding, he noted that it is crucial for appropriate measures to be put in place to limit access to their rights and ensure discipline, compliance, and respect for authority.

The CHASS President’s call on government is predicated on the recent cases of indiscipline recorded among students in some Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.

“The level of student indiscipline in our schools is growing by the day and it is pervasive. From breaking common school rules, students are now involved in the use of hard drugs, pushing down school fence walls, and engaging in physical fights with implements like knives and cutlasses, inflicting serious cuts on their victims. Vandalizing teachers’ properties like cars and farms are common occurrences when teachers try to instil discipline. And, in some instances, they engage in the destruction and burning of school properties like dormitories, furniture, and other buildings”.

Indiscipline among student versus child rights activists

Alhaji Abubakar revealed that the problem of indiscipline among students is exacerbated by child rights activists who primarily focus on the right of the child and not necessarily taking into consideration the requirement that was needed to ensure responsible growth and development.

Following this, the CHASS President disclosed that Ghana needs to develop its own disciplinary rules especially with regards to students’ behaviour and refrain from adopting policies of other jurisdictions which were not applicable in the country.

“CHASS observed with wonder how some child rights activists quickly jump into the arena of defending their conceived denial of child rights issues, perhaps without looking at the negative effects their defence or approach is bringing upon discipline in our educational systems”.

On his part, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Yakubu, indicated that indiscipline among students continues to be a source of concern and as such, a collective approach is required to address the issue.

Mr Yakubu noted that government, on its part, will boost the educational system in the country by providing the requisite infrastructure and logistics, urging the teachers to work to inculcate into students a sense of discipline and patriotism for sustained development.