Renowned educationist and former Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Prof Stephen Adei, has raised serious concerns about the state of Ghana’s education system, warning that the country is facing a moral and institutional crisis, particularly at the basic and secondary levels.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsdesk on Wednesday, 7th May, Prof Adei decried the growing indiscipline and moral decay in schools, asserting that no nation can build a strong future on a failing public education system.

“No country can train its children in private schools,” he said. “We all must make sure that the public school system works,” he remarked.

Prof Adei lamented what he described as a loss of moral discipline in secondary schools, citing disturbing trends such as occultism, sexual misconduct, and general lawlessness.

“Today, the indiscipline, the occultism, the homosexuality, and unthinkable things are going on in our secondary schools,” he stated.

He pointed out that while national conversation often focuses on initiatives such as the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, the root of Ghana’s educational challenges lies deeper.

“The education crisis is at the primary and secondary level,” he noted. “Free SHS is what they talk about, but the real issue is the moral discipline and the material, which are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Prof Adei called for urgent and collective action to restore discipline and standards in public schools, warning that continued neglect would have long-term consequences for the country’s development.

He emphasised the need for a national re-commitment to quality and values-based education, particularly for the most vulnerable and impressionable age groups.