Ghana’s education sector has long grappled with challenges such as poor infrastructure, inadequate resources and teacher shortages.
Yet a new and deeply troubling crisis now threatens to overshadow them all — the rising cases of sexual misconduct among teachers.
From KNUST SHS to Okadjakrom SHTS and beyond, disturbing reports of teachers exploiting students continue to surface.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has responded commendably by interdicting accused teachers, investigating cases and even naming and shaming offenders.
Under the GES Code of Conduct, guilty teachers face dismissal and possible prosecution.
But these measures only scratch the surface of a much deeper problem.
Where do dismissed teachers go?
A troubling loophole allows dismissed teachers to resurface in private schools. If one is unfit to teach in the public system, how can they suddenly be suitable for private classrooms?
I recall a teacher dismissed in the Ga East Municipality for sexual misconduct, who found new employment at a private school within a week.
This contradiction undermines the entire education system. In law or medicine, a professional stripped of their license cannot practice anywhere.
Teaching — a profession that shapes the minds and morals of children — should be held to no lesser standard.
Dilution profession
This problem is not unique to education.
In a viral sermon, Venerable Pastor Mensa Otabil of ICGC lamented how standards in Christendom have eroded.
In orthodox churches, titles like bishop require years of training, mentorship and scrutiny.
In some charismatic circles, however, anyone can rise overnight and self-declare the title “Bishop” — without oversight or accountability.
Otabil asked rhetorically: “What would happen if someone woke up one morning and declared themselves a lawyer?”
The answer is clear: such a person would never be allowed to practice.
The parallel with teaching is striking.
Traditionally, one could only be called a teacher after rigorous training in a college of education or a university.
But today, many private schools are filled with self-styled “teachers” who lack professional training or certification.
Some of these individuals lack not just skills, but also the moral compass to mentor children.
The result is a profession increasingly diluted, disrespected and dangerous.
Constitutional, moral imperative
Article 25 of the 1992 Constitution permits private citizens to establish schools, but it does not sanction the hiring of unqualified or morally unfit teachers.
Education is not a business for shortcuts — it is a sacred trust that moulds character and intellect.
When schools, public or private, ignore this duty, they violate both professional ethics and the spirit of the Constitution.
Who guards the gate?
Three key institutions must act decisively to restore integrity:
• National Teaching Council (NTC): Only licensed teachers should be allowed to stand before students. The teacher’s license must be treated with the same seriousness as a lawyer’s certificate or a doctor’s license.
• National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA): Inspections must include verification of teacher qualifications. Schools that employ unlicensed staff should face sanctions or closure.
• Ghana Education Service (GES): Beyond dismissals, GES must coordinate with NTC and NaSIA to prevent dismissed teachers from re-entering classrooms through private institutions.
Consequences inaction
Sexual misconduct in schools erodes trust, parental confidence and the dignity of the teaching profession.
It damages the moral fabric of classrooms and makes it harder to attract quality teachers.
When a teacher becomes a source of fear instead of guidance, the very foundation of education collapses.
To address this growing menace, Ghana must:
Establish a National Teacher Registry — a central database of licensed teachers accessible to schools and parents.
Create a blacklist of dismissed teachers to prevent re-employment anywhere in the country.
• Empower parents and communities to demand transparency regarding teacher qualifications.
• Strengthen moral and ethical education in teacher training institutions.
• Launch public campaigns to restore the respect and dignity of the teaching profession.
The future of Ghana depends on the integrity of those who teach its children.
Allowing unqualified or morally bankrupt individuals to infiltrate classrooms is a betrayal of national trust.
Beyond punishing misconduct, we must close the loopholes that enable it.
Public Relations Officer, Ga East Municipal Education Directorate.
E-mail:anyormi21@gmail.com
