Bishops Decry GES Exclusion As SHS Indiscipline Deepens

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has raised sharp objection to its removal from the Ghana Education Service Council, warning that the marginalisation of mission stakeholders is fueling a dangerous surge of indiscipline within Senior High Schools across the country.

Conference President Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi described the development as deeply unfortunate and institutionally counterproductive, stressing that the Catholic Church remains Ghana’s second-largest provider of formal education and a historic custodian of moral formation. He argued that stripping the Church of deliberative presence on the governing council severs a vital partnership that has long underpinned academic excellence and character development in mission schools.

The Bishops contend that escalating incidents of hooliganism, weapon possession, examination lawlessness and disregard for authority are symptomatic of a broader ethical erosion exacerbated by weak consultation. The Conference linked the current governance lacuna to growing disciplinary infractions, noting that mission authorities possess the pastoral infrastructure and supervisory proximity necessary to monitor teacher fidelity and student conduct where centralized inspectorate mechanisms falter.

Beyond governance, the Conference expressed disquiet over delays in finalising a joint Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education and the unilateral introduction of universal guidelines for secondary schools without formal engagement of faith-based organisations. The Bishops cautioned that substituting collaborative protocols with administratively imposed directives undermines institutional autonomy, religious liberty and the distinctive ethos that has distinguished mission schools for generations.

Analysts observe that the impasse revives a longstanding tension between state secular administration and denominational stewardship of education, a partnership codified in 1999 but increasingly strained by policy unilateralism. With thousands of Catholic-founded basic and second-cycle institutions serving diverse communities, the exclusion risks not only operational dissonance but also erosion of public confidence in disciplinary enforcement. The Conference is calling for immediate reinstatement of its representation and expedited signing of the pending MoU to restore equilibrium.

Author: Korkor Anumu

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