No disciplinary concern justifies violence against students - EduWatch condemns Nyinahini SHS incident

The African Education Watch (EduWatch) has condemned a viral video in which a 39-year-old teacher at Nyinahini Catholic Senior High School, Eric Buenortey Akpafio, was seen in a physical confrontation with a 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, the education think tank condemned the act and called on teachers to uphold non-violent means of discipline.

EduWatch commended the police for what it described as the swift response to the incident and expressed hope that ongoing investigations would ensure accountability and justice.

The organisation stressed that schools must remain safe environments where learners are protected from all forms of violence and abuse.

"Teachers and all education personnel have a professional and ethical duty to uphold non-violent, child-centred and de-escalatory approaches to discipline, behaviour management and classroom control. No disciplinary concern justifies physical confrontation or violence against a learner," the statement said.

According to EduWatch, disciplinary challenges in schools should be handled through approved institutional procedures, safeguarding protocols and professional standards rather than physical confrontations.

The think tank further called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure the affected student receives immediate medical care and psychosocial support while conducting internal disciplinary investigations into the conduct of the teacher.

"Eduwatch further 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 noted.