Wee Smokers, Sex Toys: GES policies come under scrutiny over growing indiscipline in schools

The Bono East Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), David Boakye, has blamed the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the rising indiscipline among students, arguing that recent education policies have weakened teachers' authority to enforce discipline.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Boakye said policies that prohibit corporal punishment, prevent students from repeating classes, and make it difficult to dismiss persistently truant students have contributed to worsening behaviour in schools.

"You see, GES must sit up. There are certain things that are contributing to this. Now we don't repeat students. You can't just sack a student. Even if a student stays home for a whole semester, you still have to register that student when they return," he said.

He claimed some students barely attend classes but return only to register and write examinations, while teachers are left powerless to enforce discipline.

"There are schools today where teachers know exactly which students smoke weed. Some don't come to school on Fridays because everyone knows where they are. But who will try to discipline such a student when you have no right to cane them?" he questioned.

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Boakye argued that teachers now simply refer disciplinary cases to school management or disciplinary committees, with little authority to intervene directly.

"If there are disciplinary issues, you just refer them to the disciplinary committee. If they handle it, fine. If they don't, it's no longer your responsibility. Teachers no longer have the right to cane students," he stated.

He cited a recent video showing a teenage girl allegedly demonstrating the use of a sex toy to classmates as an example of the growing indiscipline in schools.

"If a teacher sees such behaviour today, the only option is to report the student to management. In the past, that student would have been punished publicly during assembly to deter others," he said.

Boakye acknowledged that corporal punishment did not eliminate misconduct entirely but argued that students produced under the previous disciplinary system were generally better behaved.

"We still have corruption in society, but better products came out of our schools in those days. If you compare the numbers, the quality of students was better," he said.

He also lamented the relaxation of school regulations, noting that students previously could not leave school premises during break periods, unlike the current situation where some leave campus and fail to return.

As a way of addressing indiscipline, Boakye urged parents to identify a trusted teacher to mentor and monitor their children throughout their time in school.

"When you send your child to school, identify one teacher and leave your child in his or her care. Some teachers treat students like their own children. Instead of relying only on what your child tells you, call that teacher regularly to ask about their behaviour and academic progress," he advised.

According to him, stronger collaboration between parents and committed teachers would help improve student discipline and provide the guidance many young people need.

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