Free SHS: ‘No repetition’ rule fostering student complacency – CPS

A research by the Centre for Policy Scrutiny has found that Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy has weakened discipline and accountability in schools, with key measures under the programme contributing to student complacency and teacher apathy.Ghanaian culture articles

The study, which assesses nine years of the Free SHS policy, identified the “no repetition” rule, restrictions on corporal punishment, strict disciplinary procedures and the auto-placement system as some of the factors affecting discipline and academic seriousness in senior high schools.

Presenting the findings on Tuesday, September 1, a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr Jacob Oppong Nkansah, said the measures, although introduced as part of efforts to expand access and protect students, have created unintended challenges for school authorities.

He explained that the “no repetition” policy has reduced some of the consequences associated with poor academic performance, potentially encouraging students to become complacent about their studies and conduct.

The research also found that restrictions on corporal punishment and strict rules governing disciplinary measures have made it more difficult for teachers and school authorities to effectively respond to student misconduct.

According to Dr Nkansah, the situation has contributed to student complacency and teacher apathy, with some teachers becoming less motivated to enforce discipline when their options for dealing with misconduct are limited.

The study further identified the auto-placement system as another factor influencing student accountability, while raising concerns about the misuse of government-issued tablets in senior high schools.

Dr Nkansah said the misuse of the tablets is increasingly contributing to indiscipline among some students, adding to concerns about the effective supervision of the devices.

“The current Free Senior High School policy has also come with issues of discipline and accountability. It came out that the ‘no repetition’ rule, the ‘no corporal punishment’, the strict rules regarding punishment, and even auto-placement has fostered student complacency and teacher apathy, reducing academic seriousness.

“And the recent one has been the misuse of tablets, which they mentioned that it is currently fueling indiscipline among senior high school students” he said.