Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, is calling for schools to be given the authority to dismiss students whose conduct threatens safety and order, with growing concerns over rising indiscipline in secondary schools.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Asare argued that the current level of misconduct in many schools has outgrown traditional disciplinary measures, including corporal punishment.

“Schools must have the power to dismiss students whose conduct threatens safety and order. That’s a solution that matches the times,” he stated.

His comment comes as teacher unions continue to call for the reinstatement of corporal punishment to curb what they describe as radicalized indiscipline among students.

Mr. Asare acknowledged that the ban on corporal punishment has contributed to the rise in indiscipline, but disagreed with the notion that simply reintroducing the cane would be enough to address the current challenges.

“I agree with the Teacher Unions that the ban on corporal punishment has contributed to the heightened levels of indiscipline in secondary schools…What is a cane to a student armed with a weapon? The problem has outgrown the punishment,” he warned.

Between January and February 2025, at least five violent incidents were recorded in senior high schools across the country, including clashes at Kinbu Secondary Technical, Kumasi Technical Institute, Salaga SHS, Islamic SHS, and Sokode SHS. These confrontations reportedly involved the use of weapons, led to injuries, and, in some cases, forced temporary closures of the affected schools.

In a separate case in February 2025, more than 30 students of Sawla SHS were indefinitely suspended for breaching school rules, including possession of mobile phones and involvement in immoral acts.

Earlier, in March 2024, a deadly altercation between students of Christian Methodist SHS and Ngleshie Amanfro SHS led to the tragic deaths of two students, highlighting the growing threat of violence within the school system.