The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has called for the disbandment of tribal groupings in senior high schools as part of broader measures to address the persistent incidents of student unrest and riots in the region.
He made the call during a media encounter at the Regional Minister’s Residency, where he expressed concern about the recurring disturbances in second-cycle institutions across the Upper East Region.
According to Mr. Akamugri, student riots in the region are often misunderstood as being solely student-driven, when in reality they stem largely from a breakdown of discipline within school systems, including among teaching and non-teaching staff.
He explained that poor staff discipline and strained relationships among school authorities often create an enabling environment for indiscipline to filter down to students, eventually resulting in unrest.
The Regional Minister said discussions with the Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service had revealed the urgent need to restore discipline and improve relationships among staff in schools, noting that students often mirror what they observe from authority figures.
Beyond internal discipline, Mr. Akamugri identified tribal groupings in schools as a major trigger for violent confrontations, saying disputes that begin as minor disagreements often escalate when they take on ethnic or community dimensions.
He observed that once conflicts are framed along tribal lines, students feel compelled to defend “their own,” leading to mass participation in riots and deepening divisions within schools.
To address this, the Regional Minister disclosed that school authorities have been encouraged to ban tribal-based associations in boarding schools, stressing that such groupings defeat the very purpose of second-cycle education.
He reminded the public that boarding schools were originally established to promote national integration, cultural appreciation, and peaceful coexistence among students from diverse backgrounds, a vision championed by Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Mr. Akamugri also called on parents to take responsibility for the upbringing and discipline of their children, lamenting that some parents are increasingly unable to control or correct their wards, thereby contributing to indiscipline in schools.
He further raised concerns about weakened Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and restrictive disciplinary policies that limit teachers’ ability to enforce order, calling for a review of existing guidelines to give teachers reasonable authority to maintain discipline.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Joshua Asaah | Bolgatanga
