It's alarming how SHS students have the courage to sell marijuana on campus; let's give GES more authority to punish — Education Minister

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed heads of senior high schools across the country to dismiss students found selling narcotics, including marijuana, on school campuses, describing the growing drug menace and indiscipline in schools as deeply alarming.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday in response to concerns about rising indiscipline and drug abuse in pre-tertiary schools, the Minister acknowledged that the problem had reached worrying levels and required decisive action.

"You will be alarmed that in some secondary schools, a student will have the courage to go and sell wee (Indian hemp), marijuana or cannabis on the school campus and this should merit outright dismissal because if this does not happen, he will poison the rest of the students who are completely innocent," he said.

Mr. Iddrisu warned that allowing students involved in drug peddling to remain in school posed a serious threat to other learners and undermined discipline within educational institutions.

He also called for a review of the disciplinary framework in schools to give the Ghana Education Service greater authority to deal firmly with student misconduct.

"So, we may have to rethink and review our punishment regime and cloak the Ghana Education Service with authority to deal ruthlessly with any student who misbehaves," he stated.

The Minister's comments came in response to a question by the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Professor Kingsley Nyarko, who sought information on measures being implemented to promote discipline, particularly at the pre-tertiary level.

Mr. Iddrisu described the level of indiscipline in some schools as "un-Ghanaian," citing incidents involving students carrying firearms onto school premises and vandalising security infrastructure.

He referred to an incident at Prempeh College in Kumasi where students allegedly destroyed CCTV cameras installed by the school's Old Students Association to enhance campus security.

"That is indiscipline and that is unacceptable and the heaviest sanctions should be meted out to them by the Ghana Education Service," he said.

The Minister also recalled an incident during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in which students allegedly assaulted a teacher for refusing to assist them in examination malpractice.

"We have had an incident of that nature recorded that because the teacher and invigilators would be strict and vigilant, they decided to mess up with the teacher," he said.

Mr. Iddrisu argued that such incidents underscored the need to strengthen disciplinary measures in schools, adding that the repeal of capital punishment had contributed to a perception of reduced consequences for serious misconduct.

He stressed that addressing indiscipline was a shared responsibility between parents, teachers and the wider society, assuring Parliament that the government remained committed to restoring discipline in schools.

The Minister announced that he would return to Parliament next week to present a comprehensive statement on the growing indiscipline in schools and the measures being implemented to address it.

He also disclosed that a national conference on discipline in education would be held in Sunyani before the end of July, bringing together academics, religious leaders, teachers, educationists and other stakeholders to discuss lasting solutions.

Mr. Iddrisu noted that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, is rolling out several initiatives to strengthen discipline, including a Behavioural Standards Guide for learners, a revised Teachers' Code of Conduct and a National Safe School Policy.

He further reaffirmed his support for the efforts of the Ministry for the Interior and the Narcotics Control Commission to combat drug abuse and trafficking in schools.