Ghana Education Service (GES) has rejected claims made by Mr. David Boakye on the Good Morning Ghana show on Metro TV regarding alleged indiscipline in schools. He stated that schools no longer repeat students and that students cannot simply be dismissed, among other assertions.
Read the full GES statement below:
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1. The attention of Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has been drawn to claims made by one David Boakye in an interview circulating on social media, alleging that the Ghana Education Service no longer punishes students who engage in misconduct, and also that students are automatically promoted because repetition in class has been abolished in schools.
2. While Management acknowledges that indiscipline in schools, especially at the SHS level, is a serious menace and more stringent measures need to be put in place to curb it, we wish to state that reported cases of indiscipline do not go unpunished as it’s being alleged. Therefore, the claims by David Boakye are inaccurate and do not reflect the reality in our schools.
3. Across the country, disciplinary measures continue to be applied in accordance with the Ghana Education Service Code of Conduct, school regulations, and existing educational policies to ensure that discipline is maintained in schools.
4. For instance, in 2025, the reported case of an assault on a teacher by some students at Accra High School attracted punitive action. The students involved were withdrawn from the school. Similarly, at Swedru School of Business, where students assaulted one another during an inter-school sports competition, they were withdrawn from the school. In October 2025, when some WASSCE candidates of Kade SHS assaulted a teacher over strict invigilation, they were reported to the police, processed for court and sentenced.
5. In many other separate incidents of reported cases of student misconduct, they were indefinitely suspended, fined by the courts, or sentenced to jail terms, while boarding students were deboardinised in accordance with the applicable disciplinary procedures. These demonstrate that student misconduct attracts sanctions.
6. The claim that repetition no longer exists in schools at all is equally misleading. Repetitions are done upon request by the schools. For example, during the 2025/2026 academic year, five (5) final-year students of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary repeated Form Three due to low academic performance. Similarly, Opoku Ware Senior High School has requested approval for some students to repeat because of unsatisfactory academic performance.
7. Schools have been empowered to enforce discipline through the established disciplinary structures. School disciplinary committees remain active, and their recommendations are implemented in accordance with existing regulations and due process.
8. In order to address the rising canker of indiscipline among learners and strengthen discipline in schools, the Ministry of Education will be organising a national conference to engage key stakeholders, including Faith Based Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, in identifying practical solutions to the challenge. The Ghana Education Service (GES) has also constituted a committee to review the current Code of Conduct to ensure it effectively promotes discipline in schools.
9. Management assures parents, guardians, and the general public that the Ghana Education Service remains committed to producing quality graduates who are not only academically competent but also possess good character and strong values. Disciplinary standards are, therefore, not compromised.
10. Management continues to count on the support of all stakeholders in addressing disciplinary challenges in schools.
Thank you.β
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