The Ministry of Education has granted school heads at Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country the mandate to conduct searches on students.

This was revealed by the Deputy Minister for Education, Clement Apaak on Saturday, May 24.

Speaking to Citi News, Clement Apaak, noted that the action is a part of the government's series of strategies to eradicate indiscipline in schools, specifically SHSs.

The new development was ruled out under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP)government.

The instruction comes after the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) threatened to take matters in their hands should the GES fail to introduce drastic measures against notorious SHS students.

NAGRAT, however, issued a May 31 deadline ultimatum emphasizing its decision to introduce tough disciplinary measures to protect teachers.

In response, the Ministry of Education has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to implement a lasting solution in response to the rising cases of indiscipline in Senior High Schools (SHS).

The Deputy Minister has also indicated that Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meetings will be reinstated to ensure teachers and parents collaborate as well as share concerns.

He added that "The minister has directed the director general of education to work with the current Education Service council to provide immediate additional interventions towards addressing this canker which clearly doesn't order well for teaching and learning even as we look forward to implementing recommendations as captured in the here yet to be published report of the national education forum".

However, the Deputy Minister explained that the decision to include corporal punishment would be made once the discussions with the stakeholders of education are finalized.

"So we would not make an immediate pronouncement as to whether oral punishment should be one of the interventions until we see what is going to come out of the interaction between the director general and the council," he added.

Violence in SHSs has become a trend in the country. Between January and February this year, Ghana recorded five violent clashes in SHSs.

These incidents have witnessed students possessing weapons, destroying properties and others engaging in brutal confrontations.

Stakeholders on the other hand, have bemoaned the growing indiscipline and insecurity on school campuses, prompting calls for an immediate intervention.

Recently, authorities at Sokode Senior High Technical School temporarily shut down the premises over a violent misunderstanding between students.

Kinbu Secondary Technical and Accra Technical Centre School earlier this year were involved in a heated altercation.

Away from Accra, Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) and Kumasi Anglican Senior High School clashed after returning from an inter-school competition.

One student sustained severe injuries as a result of the event; school properties and private cars belonging to teachers were also damaged.

Salaga Senior High School in the Savannah Region, observed the most violent clashes.

The confrontation left a student with multiple stab wounds with the police retrieving locally-produced pistol and ammunition from the scene.

Students of Islamic Senior High School (ISSEC)also faced off with local youth, causing injuries and damages to multiple vehicles.