Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Directs GES to Dismiss Students Selling Marijuana on Campus

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has issued a stern directive to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to implement a policy of outright dismissal for students found peddling marijuana within senior high schools. Speaking before Parliament, the Minister addressed the growing concern of drug abuse and indiscipline that has increasingly permeated pre-tertiary institutions across the country. He emphasized that removing student dealers from the school environment is a necessary step to protect innocent peers from being influenced by illicit activities and to maintain the integrity of educational institutions.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, the Minister noted that the rise in drug-related incidents is often accompanied by broader acts of defiance and indiscipline. He cited alarming instances where students have actively resisted the installation of security measures, such as CCTV cameras, which are intended to monitor campus safety and deter criminal behavior. According to the Minister, this shift in student conduct necessitates a more robust approach to campus security and a zero-tolerance policy toward behaviors that compromise the safety of the learning environment.

In response to these challenges, Mr. Iddrisu called for an urgent review of the current punishment regime governed by the Ghana Education Service. He argued that existing disciplinary measures may no longer be sufficient to deter modern-day challenges of drug peddling and organized indiscipline. To address these systemic issues, the government plans to convene a national conference focused on school discipline. This forum will bring together stakeholders to deliberate on comprehensive strategies and tougher sanctions aimed at restoring order and focus within the nation's senior high schools.