All is not well with our society

In May 2019, IFEST published a research paper on the increasing nature of violence in our educational institutions. In that report, we indicated that there seems to be a change in the nature and scope of school violence from what used to be jama, boycotting of classes and dining to attacks on staff, destruction of property, and use of weapons.

I remember one of the rebuttals we had was that it's been always the case just that, now the media is highlighting it (a very unfortunate response from those who should know better).

Then early this year, another report released in February by the Consultative Committee to Combat Drug Menace indicated that about 54.1% of boys in JHS/SHS use drugs. You read the entire report and it's scary what is happening to the young people of this country. Sadly, it didn't get the attention it needed. That report should be acted on by the GES asap.

Parents and friends, in years past, the family or home used to be the major avenue for socialization of the child. The child learns all the needed values, principles and mores from the home before he/she steps into the school and the community. Unfortunately, times are changing, the pressure on the family to make ends meet and to meet the demands of everyday life challenges has shifted this role to the school system and friends. Now, as early as, 5/6 months people are sending their wards to school. The child spends more time in school then in the house. In some families, the child learns the basic tenets of life from friends and mates and from programmes on TV. This is why, we all should be interested in what happens in our schools, what is shown on TV and who our kids play with.

A good educational system addresses the immediate, short and long term needs of society. We are fixated on sloganeering and scoring cheap political points to the detriment of implementing reforms that will impact on the total personality of the child. Reforms that will ensure that the future of the child is secured. We are interested in the child getting As even if he/she can openly show utmost disrespect to authorities. We do not care, if he/she can lie, be abusive or very violent so far as he/she can pass the examination.

We are interested in what car our colleagues drive and how much they are able to spend even when we know not their source of income. Parents are putting pressure on their wards indirectly by comparing them to their mates who seems to have made it. It's now all about getting rich fast and quick damn the consequences because that's what society recognizes. We have covertly rendered hard work a "curse" in our society. If not so, why should a teacher work for over 30 years and cannot boast of a decent accommodation upon retirement while sometimes within few months of people entering into politics, they can boast of cars and houses? Ideally, when most young people end up in politics, it should be welcoming news but NO, that seems to be the avenue to now amass wealth.

We all need to pause and do a massive reflection. This Kasoa incident should prompt us to ask ourselves some serious questions. The last time, it was an adolescent ganging up with his friends to beat up a teacher because he was punished for not doing his homework.

We are all at risk if we don't speak up, because these kids are the future leaders. They will be in their 30s and 40s when my generation is in our 60s and 70s. We can't survive if we don't help push for massive reforms in our schools and communities to help instill some discipline and good values into these young once. It starts from you, your family and your community.

We need to do this to save our FUTURE. We can embrace modernity while sticking to the values and principles that build rather than break a society.

The writer is an Education Economist, Policy Analyst and Researcher.