The management of Accra Academy Senior High School has linked rising levels of student indiscipline to a severe staff shortage on campus. Headmaster Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle disclosed that just 22 staff members currently reside on campus, yet are responsible for supervising nearly 5,000 students.
He made this revelation during a visit by the Education Committee of Parliament, emphasizing that the lack of resident hall masters and support staff has made it difficult to maintain discipline, particularly among boarding students.
“We have 22 of our staff who serve as hall masters and other auxiliary workers. It’s difficult to manage the students as boarders. If you want to trace the root of indiscipline, it’s because the numbers are not enough,” the headmaster said.
Mr. Fiemawhle further urged authorities to prioritize residential infrastructure support through the GETFund, noting that the school had not received any recent investment in that area.
Chairman of the Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, acknowledged the staffing challenges facing Accra Academy and many other schools. He assured stakeholders that measures are being taken to address the issue.
“We’ve observed the staff shortage across several schools. Accra Academy, with almost 6,000 students, lacks adequate personnel. We’re recommending to the Education Minister to seek clearance from the Finance Ministry to recruit both teaching and auxiliary staff,” he stated.
This development underscores the urgent need for policy intervention to bridge staffing gaps and improve supervision in Ghana’s senior high schools.
