Two major teacher associations in Ghana are demanding swift intervention following violent clashes among students in the Central Region.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) have called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to immediately convene an emergency meeting to formulate and enforce a comprehensive code of conduct to regulate student behaviour.
The unions say the absence of a clearly documented and enforced student code of conduct has contributed to increasing cases of assaults and violent attacks on school campuses.
Their reaction follows recent disturbances at Agona Swedru involving students at Obrachire Senior High Technical School and Swedru School of Business.
The clashes reportedly escalated into violence.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service has begun investigations into the incident. Authorities indicate that the outcome of the probe will determine sanctions for students found culpable, while also shaping long-term strategies to address recurring violence in schools.
GNAT Raises Alarm
General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Tank Musah, expressed grave concern over what he describes as a growing breakdown of discipline in schools. He urged the GES and the Ministry of Education to act swiftly by engaging stakeholders to develop a binding student code of conduct.
“The only code of conduct we have now is what we call the GES code of conduct for the teaching staff, and that one is clear. That particular one is specifically for teachers. It has a wide range of limitations regarding what the teachers can do and what the teacher cannot do, and we have told our teachers to stay by the code.”
He stressed that while teachers are strictly regulated, there appears to be no equivalent framework clearly outlining acceptable and unacceptable behaviour for students.
“Given this, some students have even taken advantage to be beating teachers. The recent one is the WASS one, and we have all these happening day in and day out. All what we are saying to GES is that let the sanctioned regime, the permitted behaviour we want, be documented,” he said.
NAGRAT Calls for Dismissals
On his part, President of NAGRAT, Jacob Anaba, revealed that the Association had formally written to the Ghana Education Service as far back as 2025, recommending strict sanctions — including dismissal — for students who assault others on campus.
He maintained that the students involved in the Obrachire incident should face the ultimate disciplinary measure.
“We have written to the GES since 2025 to dismiss students who are found assaulting anybody on campus, so we think that the GES should immediately think about dismissing the students,” he said.
The two unions insist that decisive and immediate action is necessary to restore discipline, protect teachers and students, and ensure safety across Ghana’s schools.
By Daniel Opoku
