By Stanley Kwabla Arku
Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has expressed deep concern over growing reports of students gaining access to dangerous weapons, including firearms, on school campuses.
Speaking on during the inauguration of governing boards of the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NASIA) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) in Accra, the minister described the trend as “worrying” and called for immediate and coordinated action across the education sector.
“We have repeatedly heard reports of students gaining access to weapons including, in some instances, firearms, on school campuses,” Mr. Iddrisu said. “This situation reflects poorly on school management and the role of school inspectors. We must ask: how did the student gain access to such a weapon?”
He noted that such incidents signal not only a failure in school oversight but also a breakdown in parental responsibility. “While some may blame the behavior on the child, it certainly does not reflect any acceptable practice by guardians, and it is not acceptable in Ghana,” he stressed. “We must work closely with parents to ensure that students, especially at the high school level, are properly guided.”
The minister urged that teachers be given full authority to moderate student behavior and enforce discipline within schools. He also called on school authorities and inspectors to intensify monitoring efforts and carry out random inspections to detect and deter any breach of school safety protocols.
“It is not just about a student having access to a weapon, but the potential danger of how that weapon could be used, possibly harming an innocent student who is simply pursuing their education,” he warned.
In light of these developments, the Minister stressed the need to give school management the mandate and tools necessary to ensure the safety and security of all students.