Student indiscipline is a crisis of values, not just bad behaviour – Rev. Gyamfi

Most Rev Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has categorized the rising cases of student indiscipline as a profound moral crisis that demands immediate national focus. During the fourth Ghana Muslim Leaders and Catholic Bishops Dialogue in Accra, the cleric emphasized that the problem extends beyond infractions of school regulations, highlighting the pressing need to ponder the type of citizens Ghana aims to cultivate.

He posited that maintaining discipline and integrity must remain paramount in education, asserting that national progress cannot be realized by merely fostering academically and professionally proficient individuals lacking robust moral principles. According to Gyamfi, student indiscipline is not merely a manifestation of misbehavior or rule-breaking; it signals a more significant concern: the kind of human beings we aspire to become.

A nation, he argued, is not merely built by skilled professionals, but by women and men who embody integrity.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference President cited recent instances of misconduct in educational settings as proof of the urgent need for stakeholders to unite in combating the trend. He affirmed that the Catholic Church has allied with the Muslim community, as the issue pertains to the entire nation and necessitates a collaborative response involving religious leaders, government bodies, schools, parents, and communities.

Urging attendees at the dialogue to contemplate the underlying causes of student indiscipline and devise enduring strategies that encourage responsible conduct and character development among youth, Gyamfi called for reflective action. The fourth Ghana Muslim Leaders and Catholic Bishops Dialogue is centered on reinforcing collaboration between the two faith groups in tackling significant social issues, including the waning of discipline and moral values in educational institutions.