Our ability to discipline students has been curtailed – GNAT’s General Secretary

• Posted on September 5, 2024September 5, 2024
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Tanko Musah has bemoaned the lack of authority needed for teachers to discipline students on secondary school campuses.

He said because of recent reforms, teachers are not allowed to teach students how to respect each other’s rights.

“The current state that teachers find themselves in now is that when you go to school, you can only teach, the ability to ensure that you will discipline the child is curtailed”.

The General Secretary was reacting to recent stabbing that took the life of an 18-year-old student following a heated argument he had with his colleague over whose father is richer.

Thomas Musah said GNAT’s members have been denied disciplinary rights and it is the reason school children are seen to be misbehaving in some schools these days.

He said the Association is ready to debate anyone who thinks otherwise.

“We cannot copy everything in the western world. Some of us have become so familiar with our children that when we speak, they take us for granted,” he lamented.

Thomas Musah Tanko sympathized with the family of the deceased and called for a stakeholder engagement with school authorities, teachers and parents to find a lasting solution.

Meanwhile the Director General of the Ghana Education Service Dr. Eric Nkansah along with the head teachers at the school have visited the parents of the deceased to commiserate with them.

The meeting according to TV3’s Godwin Asidiba ended in chaos as angry family members feeling hurt, escorted the GES officials to their cars.

Edward’s sister, Mariam Naa Borley believes the family deserves a better explanation.

-3news