Accra: Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for the outright dismissal of students found selling marijuana and other illicit drugs on senior high school campuses, describing the practice as a serious threat to the safety of other learners. Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, July 2, 2026, during a debate on rising indiscipline in schools, the minister said such offences should attract the toughest sanctions.
According to Ghana Web, Haruna Iddrisu emphasized the alarming nature of indiscipline in educational institutions, which demands urgent intervention. He highlighted incidents involving students carrying weapons to school, destroying school property, assaulting teachers, and engaging in examination malpractice as evidence of moral decay in schools.
The minister suggested a review of the country's disciplinary framework for schools to empower authorities to manage misconduct more decisively. "We may have to rethink and review our punishment regime and clothe the Ghana Education Service with authority to deal ruthlessly with any student who misbehaves and finds himself wanting when it comes to the code of conduct of the school," he stated.
He also noted that the government is implementing policy reforms and engaging stakeholders to address the situation. A national conference on discipline in schools is set to take place in Sunyani before the end of July, involving academics, teachers, religious leaders, and other education stakeholders to discuss measures to curb indiscipline.
Haruna Iddrisu further announced that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, is introducing behavioural standards for learners, revising the teachers' code of conduct, and finalizing a National Safe School Policy to strengthen discipline across pre-tertiary institutions.