The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) has raised concerns over the increasing spate of violence in pre-tertiary schools, calling on all stakeholders to take urgent steps to protect the future of Ghana’s children.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission under the theme *“Securing Our Schools, Protecting Our Future: The Role of Stakeholders”*, the National Chairman of GNECC, Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, said the Coalition was alarmed by the rampant incidents of violence among students.
He described the trend of students carrying weapons, engaging in fights, and exhibiting violent behavior as worrying, stressing that it threatened the very foundation of the nation’s future leadership.
“These children are the future ministers, presidents, technocrats, and pastors. If they grow up in violence, we endanger the nation’s future. Our schools must be rescued, and that is why GNECC has convened this stakeholder meeting—to find solutions, not just to complain,” Mr. Homadzi emphasized.
He identified exposure to violent content online, lack of parental control, weak enforcement of school discipline, and inadequate guidance and counseling services as major causes of the menace. While rejecting calls for the reinstatement of corporal punishment, he advocated for stronger counseling and guidance systems to help shape students’ character.
“Globalization has exposed our children to different influences, but as parents, teachers, traditional leaders, and opinion leaders, we must guide them. Corporal punishment only destroys their psychological setup. What we need is proper counseling and strong enforcement of school rules,” he added.
On her part, the National Coordinator of GNECC, Madam Bernice Mpere Gyekye, reiterated the Coalition’s mission to ensure quality and accessible education for every Ghanaian child. She explained that the engagement was the beginning of a broader push to influence policy and practical interventions to curb school violence.
“After this meeting, we will develop strong, actionable recommendations to engage policymakers. We are particularly encouraged that the Ghana Education Service (GES) is piloting professional counseling services in 32 schools, with plans to extend it nationwide. This is critical to addressing the root causes of violence,” Madam Gyekye noted.
She further revealed that GNECC would intensify media engagements and partner with stakeholders to sensitize students on the GES Code of Conduct, ensuring that learners and teachers alike understand and uphold discipline in schools.
The stakeholder dialogue brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, teachers, students, and other key partners, all committed to finding lasting solutions to safeguard Ghana’s educational environment.
Story by Eugene Kwasi Nyarko
