The consensus at a dialogue among young people in the Ashanti Region was for duty bearers to expedite solutions to educational problems.
It was a target-reaching forum organised by the Ashanti Regional Youth Network for creative ways to address issues concerning COVID-19 management in schools, teenage pregnancy, West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), sexual harassment by teachers, corporal punishment, discipline in schools, and other matters on teaching and learning.
The Ag. Convenor for the Ashanti Regional Youth Network, Samuel Gariba, said the dialogue was necessary for young people’s participation in decision-making in education.
He added that the dialogue would offer the necessary space for young people to engage meaningfully with duty bearers and forge partnerships for inclusive problem-solving.
Mr Ali Ibrahim, Project Officer of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), said the increased indiscipline in schools was a cause for worry.
In addition, teacher-student amorous affairs are on the rise, he lamented.
According to him, there was a high record of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) chiefs and political influence on the enforcement of Ghana Education Service (GES) rules and guidelines in schools.
He called on GES to check the trend and ensure that the school environment was safe for teaching and learning.
In a panel discussion, a representative from the Regional Education Office said there was a total ban on corporal punishment in schools.
She highlighted the need for an improvement in WASSCE results.
She concluded that education was a shared responsibility between the school, parents and the community.
Hence, there was a need for parents and guardians to intensify their oversight responsibilities of children when at home.
Mr Anthony Amankwaa Sarkodie, the Assistant Regional Secretary of the Association of Private TVET Institutions in Ashanti Region, urged the young people to take up TVET courses since it has the higher potential to give them a source of livelihood after school.
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) also called for the retooling of special schools and giving them the necessary attention received in regular schools.
The programme ended with a request by the Ashanti Regional Youth Network to participate in educational review meetings of the GES.
The event was attended by officials from GES, the Association of TVET Institutions, the Ghana Federation of Disability, officers from their partners including the National Network of Youth Groups, Foundation for Security and Development in Africa, Oxfam in Ghana, the youth network members and other young people.