GES Must Partner with Influential creatives and Alumni for Anti- Bully Campaigns in High Schools

 Let's take action now!

What Happened?

A video of a senior student brutalizing a junior student at Adisadel College has been one that has stirred up emotions and conversation both online and in traditional media. The wicked and gruesome treatment meted out to another student has been condemned by everyone.

However, per the videos circulating online and similar videos and stories, violence and harsh treatment among students in high school have been an existential problem in high schools in Ghana. Through their actions and inactions, students, parents, and teachers have condoned the wrong bullying and aggressive culture in high schools for many decades. 

What are people saying?

The school, Adisadel College, is ashamed of the video and has partnered with the necessary authorities to resolve the incident the best way they can. The general uproar of Ghanaians and backlash at the school authorities after severe scrutiny and investigations has resulted in the student involved in this act being dismissed. But people seem not fully happy with the punishment; some have called for the student's arrest.

The Talkative:

Bullying in high schools in Ghana has been one of the biggest problems that has been decorated with the tag "high school culture". While other nations use resources to uproot bullying from their schools, Ghana glorifies bullying. It accepts it as a tradition that has to be passed down from generation to generation of students. 

While this incidence at Adisadel may have attained the spotlight because it was recorded, the occurrence of such behaviour in high schools across the country is the same in most public or government high schools. The teaching, leaders and student body encourage this "tradition" one way or the other. To ensure the safety of students in high schools, the Ghana Education Service, GES, has a big responsibility. 

Strict rules and punishment against bullying and violence:

First, the policies and punishment against any form of bullying, aggression and or violence against another student should receive strict discipline like outright dismissal and other stringent penalties. The guidelines have to take effect with no exceptions, and that has to start now. Students will be considerate of their actions and punishment for junior students when they know it could cost their studies and future. 

Encourage speaking up:

Schools and teachers of high schools must encourage victims of bullying and such behaviours to speak up. Most of the time, because schools leave the discipline in the hands of the senior students, the lines are blurred out, discipline turns to bullying and violence quickly and deters junior students from speaking up or reporting to the same authorities that gave the students the power to mete out such punishment. 

Influential Celebrities and Alumni Anti-Bully Campaign:

GES, influential celebrities, and Certified Counsellors must begin an intensive anti-Bully campaign in all high schools in Ghana. This can also be done in partnership with influential Alumni of these schools to champion anti-bullying campaigns. While the impact might not be felt now, the consistency of this campaign will surely desensitize the students and make high schools a safer space for students in the future.

The influence of celebrities on high school students cannot be overlooked, and that is why GES must intentionally use these influential people to impact and shape students' behaviour and reduce the occurrence of such behaviours in high schools.

Embrace technology:

High schools must also embrace technology. CCTV Cameras in schools will significantly change some unseen behaviours on campus. Also, one of the biggest reasons for most of these altercations in schools has been because of phones in schools; accepting and regulating phones in school will curb most of these clashes among students.

With these measures, high schools will become a safe place for students. 

Written By:

Tilly Akua Nipaa