National PTA Council General Secretary Raises Alarm Over Escalating Student Misconduct, Calls for National Dialogue

The General Secretary of the National P.T.A Council , Raphael Kofi Gapson, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as increasing acts of indiscipline and violent misconduct among students across the country.

In a phone interview with Kojo Preko Dankwa on Kessben Maakye, he reiterated that the trend is not limited to senior high schools but is gradually spreading to basic schools, raising serious questions about the state of discipline within Ghana’s educational system.

“We have seen a lot of such misbehaviour from these students for some time now, not only in the secondary schools but also in the basic schools,” he stated, adding that his outfit will issue an official statement addressing a recent incident reported in Agona Swedru.

Mr. Gapson emphasized that education is not the sole responsibility of one individual but a collective duty that requires the involvement of the entire society. He commended sections of the media, particularly Kessben Media, for highlighting the issue and contributing to efforts aimed at addressing the growing menace.

He stressed the need for sober reflection within the educational sector, noting that recent events serve as evidence that something may be fundamentally wrong within the system.

According to him, education appears to be shifting from being community-centered to becoming overly personalized.

The PTA General Secretary called for a national roundtable discussion involving all stakeholders in the education sector to examine the root causes of student indiscipline and chart a sustainable way forward.

He further proposed the inclusion of security and crime prevention experts in efforts to mitigate the situation, emphasizing the need to foster unity and nurture talents rather than allow young people to engage in violence that could lead to injuries or loss of lives.

Mr. Gapson also observed that such incidents often occur during certain periods of the academic calendar, thus between December and March suggesting the need for proactive measures to prevent future occurrences.

He urged government, school authorities, parents, and civil society to collaborate in restoring discipline and safeguarding the future of Ghana’s youth.