The National Council for Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) of Ghana has strongly backed the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education in enforcing approved hairstyle rules in senior high schools.
The Council said school regulations should not be seen as punishment or control. Instead, they help shape discipline, responsibility, and character among students.
This statement came after Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu urged parents to support the GES in enforcing the hairstyle directive. He explained that the policy aims to promote uniformity, discipline, and fairness among students in secondary schools.
During a stakeholder meeting in Accra on Monday, October 27, Mr. Iddrisu stressed that students will have more freedom of expression at the tertiary level. However, he said the secondary school system must continue to build order and respect for rules.
In an interview, General Secretary of the National PTA Council, Raphael Kofi Gapson, said the policy seeks to promote discipline and personal growth.
Moreover, he noted that the Council supports the government’s focus on discipline, as long as the policy is applied fairly and consistently across all schools.
“We are saying that we should look at the policy holistically and not pick and choose,” Mr. Gapson emphasized.
He also pointed out that discipline has sustained the reputation of Ghana’s top secondary schools often referred to as Category A and B schools.
“All the schools that we call Category A and B have maintained certain standards and discipline for decades. That’s why parents want their children there,” he added.
