Peace Council calls for tolerance, strict discipline in schools

The National Peace Council (NPC) has expressed worry over the trend of violence in senior high schools (SHS) in the country, calling for active involvement of parents and guardians in promoting greater discipline, tolerance and respect for diversity in schools.

In a statement released in Accra yesterday, the council made reference to recent incidents of violence among SHS students, including an assault on a student of Obrachire SHS in the Central Region, who was hospitalised after being attacked during a district athletics competition.

Incidents

The council also condemned the incident when a female student from Osino Presbyterian SHS was allegedly gang-raped, as well as the stabbing of a final year student of Koforidua Senior High Technical School which occurred at separate events during the super zonal sports festival in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

“We also decry the instance where teachers at the West Africa SHS were assaulted by some students of Frafraha Community SHS in the Adentan Municipality in the Greater Accra Region,” it said.

The council also said it was saddened by the assault of an Adisadel College final-year student by six Aggrey Memorial Students during an inter-colleges’ sports festival in Cape Coast, Central Region.

“Although the Ghana Education Service (GES) has condemned these incidents, promising to take disciplinary action against perpetrators, the NPC adds its voice to the Ministry of Education directive to the GES to fast-track investigations into these cases,” the statement said.

Security

The council said beyond the efforts of the Ghana Police Service in arresting some of the culprits, the NPC called for improved security in schools and during sporting events.

It further called for  strengthened counselling services to address underlying issues of indiscipline in our schools.

The council said it was committed to continuing its school sensitisation on peace, tolerance and non-violence means of seeking redress, and entreated the GES, together with other stakeholders in the sector, to strengthen disciplinary measures and develop policies to make schools sanctuaries of learning and harmony.