Introduce regular criminal background checks into teacher recruitment — EduWatch urges

The African Education Watch (EduWatch) has called for reforms in the manner in which teachers are recruited and supervised in Ghana.

Among the reforms proposed, the education think tank has urged the Ministry of Education to introduce pre-service and regular criminal background checks for teachers as part of recruitment, licensing and supervision processes.

The call follows a recent viral video showing a 39-year-old teacher at Nyinahini Catholic Senior High School, Eric Buenortey Akpafio, engaged in a physical confrontation with an 18-year-old female Form Three student.

The incident sparked widespread public condemnation and led to the teacher's arrest by the Ghana Police Service.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 10, EduWatch condemned the alleged assault and stressed the need for teachers to uphold non-violent approaches to discipline and classroom management.

"EduWatch... calls on the Ministry of Education to urgently consider reforms that fully integrate safeguarding suitability, including pre-service and regular criminal background checks, into teacher recruitment, licensing and supervision," the statement called.

EduWatch commended the police for what it described as the swift action taken following the incident and called for accountability through ongoing investigations.

The education think tank further urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure the affected student receives medical attention and psychosocial support while conducting internal disciplinary investigations into the teacher's conduct.

It stressed that disciplinary issues in schools must be handled through approved procedures and professional standards rather than physical confrontations.