Introduction
The second cycle schools in Ghana otherwise known as Senior High schools are essentially made up of adolescents. ‘For most adolescents in Ghana, Secondary school is a prominent part of their lives. It is here that they relate and develop relationships with their peers and where they have the opportunity to develop key social skills to navigate their social spaces. Behavioural patterns of students in the second cycle schools cut across and as such, students largely exhibit similar behaviours across board. While the boarding schools in particular offer students the opportunity to develop their social skills, there is increasing worry that new patterns of behaviour such as Indiscipline, Examination Malpractices, Cybercrime etc have emerged and are becoming entrenched[1].
Indiscipline in particular for some years now, has been on the ascendancy in many senior high schools in Ghana.
Behavioural Patterns of the Youth
Naturally, what does one expect “when corporal punishment is now being outlawed or expunged from the code of conduct for Ghanaian students? It is sad when one ponders how the Ghanaian teacher is now being treated and demonised lately. The Ghanaian teachers’ primary task besides teaching was to instil discipline and moral values in the adolescent students. Caning was essentially part of school life and deviant behaviours were punished severely but caning is now a thing of the past in Ghanaian schools.
In the past, teachers used to be the most respected people in the Ghanaian society. A teacher was regarded as a role model, a change agent and a partner in nation building. Important national and Community issues were handled or referred to teachers for advice, direction and guidance. The teacher had the authority to reprimand or discipline any child in the community regardless of whether it was in the school or home. This is no longer the case today. The right to discipline or correct the Ghanaian child for wrongdoing has been taken away from the teacher. Acts of indiscipline or misbehaviour such as disobedience, theft, stealing, disrespect or insulting of the elderly were quickly reported to a teacher for immediate action to be taken against the child. We have suddenly lost total control over our children’s upbringing to the extent that there have been incidents where students have insulted and assaulted their teachers, parents/grandparents with impunity and nobody seems to care”.[2]
Examination Malpractices in Ghanaian schools have become endemic lately and unfortunately there seems to be no end in sight. Examination Malpractices take several forms in Ghana; “including impersonation, smuggling of mobile phones into Examination halls by candidates, syndicate cheating in schools and restriction of access to school compounds for surveillance “[3]
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has had cause to complain bitterly about the above incidents of examination malpractices. In an effort to stop students from smuggling phones into the exam room, a senior officer of WAEC was attacked by students, leading to his death.[4]
In addition to this, there are instances of concealing materials in washrooms, pockets, private parts and collusion on the part of some invigilators. In a Ghanaweb publication on 31st August 2023 titled 2023 Wassce Examination Malpractices in High Gear- Nkwanta Community Senior High Technical School in Focus, Kwami Alorvi[5] writes “Headmasters, Assistant Headmasters, Supervisors and invigilators who believe in our ‘Ghana agenda’, we encourage you to give yourselves no rest, till the Examination malpractices stop. Continue to be channels of light where there is darkness, a beam of hope where there is desperation and despair. The hallmark of good people is behaving decently in an indecent society “ He further writes that there is a cabal of well-connected people involved in this fraudulent enterprise and those fraudulent invigilators are always set free. The honest teachers and Headmasters who fight the Malpractices are rather seen as the criminals. Kwami Alorvi asks, how can Ghana continue on this path?
It is regrettable that some students, rather than committing themselves to studying, rely so much on leaked questions. Parents cannot be absolved from this canker, as some strive to buy questions for their wards to gain advantages over others.
Attention can also be drawn here to institutions known to present candidates who always come out with flying colours irrespective of whether in previous years elsewhere, those same students had failed miserably. Speculations are rife that in some of these schools, some teachers are paid to gloss over cheating in examination halls as well as some teachers who are actually paid hefty sums of money to write the exams for the students in special rooms.
These practices are in the public domain, known by all and yet, it continues and one simply wonders Ghana, wither bound?
Another unfortunate behavioural pattern exhibited by some senior high school students is the use of the Internet for Cybercrime. Cybercrime, simply put, is a crime committed using computer networks. It is an offence that is committed against individuals and organisations online. It is also a criminal activity using Internet facilities such as virus infections, identity theft, hacking, credit card fraud, software piracy etc[6]. There is no doubt that many senior high school students are involved in these crimes. The activities of these people who engage in these crimes go a long way to tarnish the reputation of the country. These students spend long hours behind their computers to the detriment of their own studies. Through these fraud schemes, they rob people of their monies to spend lavishly on expensive cars, lifestyles and the like.
Further to this, the high prevalence of bullying among senior high school students is yet another inappropriate behavioural pattern. Bullying is when someone aggressively uses their power to target another individual with repeated, unwanted words or actions, hurting them physically or emotionally.[7] This can lead to adverse mental health outcomes and compromise overall well-being as well as academic performance[8]. The types of bullying that occur in senior high schools in Ghana include physical, verbal, social and psychological. The impacts of bullying on students can include emotional distress, low self-esteem, and a decrease in academic and social activities.
Impact on the society
The change in behavioural patterns among senior high school students in Ghana, such as indiscipline, examination malpractices, cybercrime, and bullying, have significant impacts on society.
Indiscipline among senior high school students in Ghana has significant impacts on society. The effects of indiscipline on academic performance have been documented in several studies. Indiscipline can lead to vandalism, insulting elders, exposing nude pictures on social media, stealing, and other negative behaviours. Indiscipline can also lead to a lack of respect for authority, disregard for rules and regulations, and a breakdown of social order. The rising incidence of indiscipline in Ghanaian schools is a concern for all stakeholders in education. Indiscipline can lead to the erosion of high academic attainments, demoralized teaching staff, and disappointment to many parents.
Examination malpractices within senior high schools in Ghana also has impact on the society. The findings from a study conducted in the Central Region of Ghana revealed that the major effects of examination malpractice on students were academic corruption and ineffective study habits. One of the major effects of examination malpractice on students is academic corruption, which can lead to a lack of trust in academic qualifications. Students who engage in examination malpractices may cheat in exams, plagiarize assignments, or engage in other forms of academic dishonesty to obtain undeserved marks or grades. Additionally, examination malpractice can discourage students from hard work, leading to low productivity and poor job performance. The negative attitude of students towards teaching and learning activities in schools can also lead to academic corruption. The impact of academic corruption caused by examination malpractices can be far-reaching, affecting the integrity of the education system and the overall development of society. The rising incidence of examination malpractices in Ghanaian schools is a concern for all stakeholders in education.
Cybercrime is a subset of computer crime, and it involves using the internet as a tool for criminal activities. Ghana is named among the top ten countries in the world with high cybercrime prevalence, and this raises concerns about the role of all stakeholders in providing information to educate the public and for the government to take measures to minimize the growing cybercrime menace in the country. Cybercrime has become a cankerworm eating very deep into the social fibre of Ghanaian youth, and research findings on the profile of cybercrime in Ghana paint a very worrying picture that calls for concern. Cybercrime has led to financial loss, identity theft, and affected individuals and businesses. Some common types of cybercrime that can occur in senior high schools include Phishing, Ransomware, Cyberbullying, Online fraud, Malicious communications etc[9]. These types of cybercrime can have serious implications for the safety and well-being of students and the security of school networks. It is important for schools to take proactive measures to prevent and address these threats.
The impact of bullying within senior high schools on society can be significant and far-reaching. Some of the negative effects of bullying on students and society include Mental health issues, high levels of anxiety, despair, and poor self-esteem among bullied adolescents, which negatively impacts their mental health as a whole[10]. Bullying can obstruct academic performance, as victims may experience fear, loneliness, and a sense of less value, which can affect their focus and motivation to learn. Bullied students may feel excluded from social activities and friendships, leading to a lack of social support and increased feelings of loneliness. Bullying can cause physical health problems, such as headaches, stomach aches, and sleep disturbances, which can affect the overall well-being of students. Bullying can contribute to a culture of violence and aggression, which can negatively impact the overall social fabric of society[11]. Lastly, bullying can lead to increased healthcare costs, low productivity, and other economic consequences for individuals and society. Implementing anti-bullying policies as well as raising awareness about the negative effects of bullying and encouraging bystander intervention can help create a safer and more supportive learning environment for all students.
While access to mobile phones in secondary schools is prohibited, students still manage to take phones to school, conceal them and engage in all kinds of criminal activities online. Some also engage in sextortion and other online criminal activities.
Outlook for leadership in future
The changing behavioural patterns among senior high school students in Ghana are likely to shape the future of leadership in the country. Future leaders will need to be equipped with the skills and characteristics to navigate the complexities of the evolving global landscape, including the behavioural changes among young people. Some of the key trends and skills that are anticipated to be essential for future leaders include flexibility, agility, emotional intelligence, empathy, futurist mindset, and global citizenship. Additionally, future leaders will need to embrace technology and digitization, as well as prioritize the well-being of their workforce and navigate the complexities of a globalized society.
To address these challenges, it is essential to develop policies and programs to educate students and prevent negative behavioural patterns in senior high schools in Ghana. This can include providing counselling services, implementing anti-bullying policies, and promoting positive behaviour among students[12]. Additionally, raising awareness about the negative effects of bad behavioural patterns and encouraging bystander intervention can help create a safer and more supportive learning environment for all students. By addressing these issues, it is possible to develop the next generation of leaders in Ghana who are equipped with the skills and characteristics to lead in a rapidly changing and uncertain world.
Conclusions & Recommendations
The issues discussed above raise significant concerns for the future of the country, relative to the youth, especially those in the formal educational setting. While this category of young persons present a significant opportunity for development and nurturing, most African nations and Ghana in particular seem to be loosing the track of what can be done.
Ghana is a nation that has lots of policies and has developed on a paper, a national youth policy for the country. While well written, the policy is not anchored in structured implementation programmes that would provide the opportunity that the youth require[13]. Furthermore, the resources that are required to harness the strength of the youth to ensure the desired outcomes are not ring fenced to ensure their availability when required.
Ghana, and indeed all of Africa stands at a cross roads. The youth population is growing, and doing so at a very fast pace. Urgent action is required to institute pragmatic programmes to build the necessary skills and provide them with pathways for development and fulfilment. Unless this is done, the future would not just be bleak, it would be lost to corruption, greed, hunger and eventually war[14].
[1] : David Baidoo-Anu & Philomina Adoma Acquah (2021) “Social challenges of adolescent secondary school students in Ghana: evidence from Cape-Coast schools”, International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 26:1, 529-540, DOI:10.1080/02673843.2021.2011332
[2] See – The rising incidence of indiscipline in Ghanaian schools: Must corporal punishment be revisited? 8th August 2020. Peter Nalaw. PhD student. University of Kuala Lumpur
[3] Samuel Sankpo: “Examination Malpractice in Ghanaian schools – Evidence from 2018-2021. International journal of Research and innovation in Social Science vol 7
[4] See https://www.modernghana.com/news/87997/waec-condemns-beating-to-death-of-officer.html
[5] Kwami Alorvi is a seasoned educationist and former President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT). He was also an Assistant Headmaster and Headmaster of High Schools in Ghana for several years.
[6] Kwaku Anhwere Barfi, Paul Nyagome, Yeboah Nash ( 2018) The internet users and cybercrime in Ghana: Evidence from senior high school in Brong Ahafo Region
[7] Arhin DK, Asante KO, Kugbey N, Oti-Boadi M. (2019) “The relationship between psychological distress and bullying victimisation among school-going adolescents in Ghana”: a cross-sectional study. BMC research
notes.; 12(1):1–5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-4038-6 PMID: 30602384
[8] Kpobi L, Swartz L. Indigenous and faith healing for mental health in Ghana: An examination of the literature on reported beliefs, practices and use of alternative mental health care in Ghana. African journal of
primary health care & family medicine. 2019; 11(1):1–5
[9]Awaah, Fred & Tetteh, Andrew & Addo, Dorcas. (2024). Effects of cyberbullying on the academic life of Ghanaian tertiary students. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research. 10.1108/JACPR-11-2023-0851.
[10] Owusu A, Hart P, Oliver B, Kang M. The association between bullying and psychological health among
senior high school students in Ghana, West Africa. Journal of school health. 2011; 81(5):231–8. https://
doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00590.x PMID: 2151786
[11] Fullchange A, Furlong MJ. An exploration of effects of bullying victimization from a complete mental health perspective. SAGE Open. 2016;6:1–12.
[12] Danquah, S. A. (1987). School psychology in Ghana. Journal of School Psychology, 25, 247-253
[13] Quansah F, Agormedah EK, Hagan JE Jr, Frimpong JB, Ankomah F, Srem-Sai M, Dadaczynski K, Okan O, Schack T. Subjective social status and well-being of adolescents and young adults in Ghanaian schools: conditional process analysis. BMC Psychol. 2023 Apr 18;11(1):122. doi: 10.1186/s40359-023-01158-7. PMID: 37072828; PMCID: PMC10111290.
[14] Gupta I, Verma M, Singh T, Gupta V. (2001). Prevalence of behavioural problems in school going children.
Indian J Pediatr; 68(4): 323-6.
Contributors
Joseph K Aning
Joseph K Aning is a fellow at the Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies. His main interests are in the area of Economic History and Education.
Nana Akua Sarpomaa Nimako-Boateng
Nana is a researcher with interests in public policy, monitoring and evaluation.
