The Minister for Education, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, has announced plans to convene a national conference aimed at addressing rising indiscipline in Ghana’s secondary schools, describing the situation as a major challenge confronting the education sector.
Speaking during a surprise visit to Aburi Girls’ Senior High School in the Eastern Region to monitor the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the minister said restoring discipline among students would be a key priority for the Ministry of Education this year.
“One of the major problems we will deal with this year, 2026, will be stemming the growing indiscipline in our schools, particularly at the secondary education level.”
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu
The visit is a nationwide monitoring exercise to assess the conduct of the examinations and engage school authorities on challenges facing educational institutions. Mr Iddrisu was accompanied by the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) during the inspection.
The minister disclosed that the Ministry of Education plans to organise a national conference in Kumasi before the end of July to bring together stakeholders from across the country to develop practical measures to tackle the problem.
“We expect that educators, academia, the church, moral society, the Muslim community, parents, regional and district directors of education and headteachers will gather in Kumasi and collectively deal with this growing indiscipline.”
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu
Honourable Iddrisu stressed that addressing student misconduct requires a collective effort involving schools, parents, religious institutions and communities. He noted that discipline and character formation must be pursued alongside academic achievement to ensure the holistic development of young people.
“We have always maintained that parenting is a shared responsibility between significant adults, namely the mother and the teacher.”
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu
According to the minister, parents have a crucial role to play in shaping the behaviour of their children. He said effective parenting remains essential in efforts to reverse the growing trend of indiscipline in schools.
Social Media As An Influence Over Student Behaviour
The education minister, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu expressed concern about the influence of social media on students, arguing that exposure to misinformation and unregulated online content is affecting the attitudes and decision making of many young people.
“However, we are losing many young individuals due to social media, which has become a source of misinformation that many young people rely on.”
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu
His comments come amid growing public concern over incidents of student misconduct in some senior high schools across the country. Cases involving violence, bullying, destruction of school property and examination-related offences have sparked renewed debate about discipline and school administration.
A recent incident at Kumasi Academy intensified these concerns after four candidates writing the 2026 WASSCE were arrested for allegedly threatening to burn down the school following disciplinary measures taken against them.
Mr Iddrisu further attributed some of the behavioural challenges among students to rapid technological changes, declining parental supervision and increasing exposure to online content. He reiterated the need for stronger collaboration between schools and families to ensure students receive proper guidance both at home and in the classroom.
Honourable Iddrisu also discussed operational challenges facing the school and reiterated government’s commitment to improving learning conditions in second-cycle institutions. Stakeholders in the education sector are expected to closely follow the outcomes of the planned conference in Kumasi, which is anticipated to produce recommendations aimed at strengthening discipline policies and promoting positive values among students.
For the Education Minister, however, the message is clear: addressing indiscipline requires a united national effort. He warned, stressing that parents, teachers, religious leaders and community members must work together to guide the next generation and safeguard the future of the country’s education system
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