The General Secretary of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA), Gapson Kofi Raphael, has raised concern over the rising cases of violence in schools, stressing that parents, as first duty bearers, must take responsibility for instilling discipline in their children.

His comments come amid the growing incidents of unrest, especially at the senior high school level, which he said have now spread to basic schools.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on September 18 and addressing the worrying trend, Mr. Raphael noted that the unchecked spate of violence clearly reflects how, as a nation, we are failing to give children the best upbringing.

According to him, the training of a child begins from the home, and parents must ask themselves what kind of foundation they are providing to ensure their wards grow up with the right values.

“We are trying to make it look as though schools are miracle centres, but they are not. Schools simply reflect what society gives to them. It is our duty as parents, as the first duty bearers, to give our children proper training and moral development,” he stated.

Mr. Raphael further observed that some pro-government policies have created the impression that the state can take over parenting, causing many parents to shirk their responsibilities.

He cautioned that when parents fail to get it right from the onset, the consequences become difficult to reverse.

Quoting scripture, he said, “If the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do? You can only build on a solid foundation that has been laid.”

Drawing from his own childhood, he recalled that in the past, every voice in the community was regarded as a parental voice.

“When someone corrected you, it wasn’t seen as only your father’s or mother’s responsibility; everybody in society had a role to play in raising a child,” he said.

Using the platform, he appealed directly to Ghanaian parents, regardless of their occupation, to prioritise their first responsibility: giving their children a proper upbringing.

“Your first job is to ensure your child has the right foundation. When your child goes out into society, their behaviour should reflect the values you have instilled. God has given parents the mandate not just to give birth but to train the child in the way he should grow so that when he grows, he will not depart from it,” he stressed.

He concluded by stressing that the National Council of PTAs is alarmed by the surge in school violence and called on parents, teachers, and society at large to unite in restoring discipline among children.