Fuseina Fuseini, a 42-year-old teacher at Madina SDA Basic School in the Greater Accra Region, has been awarded Ghana’s Most Outstanding Teacher at the 2024 Ghana Teacher Prize awards. The prestigious event, held annually, coincides with World Teachers Day and recognizes educators who make exceptional contributions to the nation’s education system.
The 2024 celebration, themed “Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” honored teachers for their dedication and impact. Fuseini’s recognition is a testament to her commitment to shaping the future of young Ghanaians through education.
During the award ceremony in Kumasi, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, addressed attendees and outlined the government’s plan to tackle indiscipline in Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country. The measures, according to Dr. Adutwum, will establish a zero-tolerance policy for student misconduct, ensuring that order is maintained in schools.
Dr. Adutwum issued a stern warning to students, urging them to avoid engaging in disruptive behavior, which could have severe consequences. His remarks come in the wake of a tragic stabbing incident at O’Reilly Senior High School that resulted in the death of a student. The altercation has sparked widespread concern about the state of discipline in schools, leading various teacher unions to condemn the incident. In response, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has formed a committee to investigate the matter.
Addressing the issue of discipline, Dr. Adutwum stated, “A note of caution to all students that there should be no tolerance for indiscipline in our schools, and there will be zero tolerance for indiscipline in our schools. We have some proposals that we are going to be discussing with CHASS and others regarding discipline in high schools. We have begun with the appointments of deans of discipline. That is a good start.”
He further elaborated on the steps being taken to address student misbehavior, particularly in cases of vandalism. Dr. Adutwum referenced past incidents where students destroyed school property following poor exam results and emphasized that such actions would no longer be tolerated. The government, he explained, is working closely with tertiary institutions, colleges of education, nursing training colleges, and universities to ensure that students transitioning from high school to higher education will be held accountable for their actions.
“The era where students, when they fail their WASSCE, go on a rampage destroying school properties will be over because we are working and we are going to be working with tertiary institutions, colleges of education, nursing training colleges, universities to ensure that when you are moving from high school to the university, you will provide a testimonial,” the Minister said. He explained that students will need a reference letter discussing their character before gaining admission to tertiary institutions.
Dr. Adutwum stressed that acts of indiscipline, such as property destruction, could end a student’s educational career. “If you go on a rampage and disrupt property, that ends your career. Indiscipline will not be tolerated anywhere in our schools. If you are proving to become a nuisance at Adisadel, we will give the school the right to do an opportunity transfer; you’ll be sent to another school,” he added.
The 2024 Ghana Teacher Prize highlighted not only the achievements of outstanding educators like Fuseina Fuseini but also the pressing need for discipline and order within the country’s educational institutions. With Fuseini’s award and the government’s commitment to reform, the event showcased both the celebration of educational excellence and the ongoing efforts to create a conducive learning environment for students across Ghana.
