Ghana Catholic Bishops’ President Links Rising School Indiscipline to Neglect of Moral Formation

Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, attributed rising school indiscipline in Ghana to a lack of moral and human formation. Speaking to ACI Africa on October 9, the bishop of the Diocese of Sunyani argued that academic education alone cannot prepare children to be responsible members of society.

Gyamfi expressed concern that the Ministry of Education has failed to understand the underlying causes of student misconduct. He noted that the Minister of Education recently held a meeting with stakeholders, including Church representatives, to discuss the issue following a national conference on July 29-30 aimed at addressing indiscipline in senior high schools. Gyamfi described it as disheartening that the minister did not already recognize the connection between the lack of value-based education and rising behavioral problems.

The bishop stated that discipline and human formation require deliberate efforts to instill values in children rather than relying on academic achievement alone. He emphasized that students need people to guide them in developing these values alongside their studies.