Discipline in Ghanaian Christian Schools: A Shared Responsibility

Abstract

One observes with great concern the devastating effects of indiscipline in contemporary Ghanaian Christian schools. Colonization came with it literate education and the Bible. Schools set up by missionaries became new spaces for literate education that informs Christian discipline and responsibility. Before then, education depended on parents, family, peer groups, and community. Grave consequences awaited indiscipline in the community, but this traditional measure has broken down. Children need literate education today, but this form of education confines them to the classroom for longer hours thus many think the discipline of the children is dependent solely on teachers. Christian schools which were avenues for Christian formation have been taken over by government, with ambitious political policies that gagged the teachers and have their hands tied. The introduction of secular courses into school curricular has created crisis of discipline in Christian schools, undermining the role of teachers and parents who are expected to nurture their children with Christian principles. In the Bible, for instance, God instructed parents to educate their children (Deut. 6:20-25); unfortunately, indiscipline led Israel into exile. This work studies these two words “discipline” and “responsibility”, within the context of phenomenology, African Biblical hermeneutics, and African Intellectual Traditions to allude that discipline in Christian schools is a shared responsibility of teachers and parents, which includes policy makers and other stakeholders.

Keywords: discipline, responsibility, policy makers, parents, teachers, schools.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/16-5-05

Publication date: May 30^th 2025