Deputy Minister of Education urges schools to prioritize counselling amid rising indiscipline

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, has stressed the need for closer collaboration between traditional leaders, religious institutions, and educational authorities to address rising indiscipline and violence in Ghanaian schools.

Speaking at the 10th graduation ceremony of Oheneba Dornyo University College of Counselling Psychology (ODUCCP), Dr. Apaak raised concerns about increasing tensions between students and teachers, describing it as a growing threat to effective teaching and learning.

The event, which saw 145 students graduate with Executive Certificates in Counselling, was held under the theme: “The Art of Healing the Soul, Restoring Hopes, and Renewing Lives.” The college is affiliated with Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra.

In his address to dignitaries and stakeholders, Dr. Apaak called for urgent action to mainstream counselling services in schools.

“To our government officials, traditional leaders, and educational heads, I humbly offer this challenge: Let us elevate counselling from the margins to the mainstream. We must intentionally train and place professional counsellors in every school to combat bullying, manage academic pressure, and support students in times of confusion.”

He emphasized the importance of mental health support across society:

“Every hospital must support not just patients, but families and overwhelmed medical staff. Every church and mosque must be equipped to handle depression, trauma, and marital conflict through both spiritual and psychological care. Every workplace must build emotionally healthy teams to prevent burnout. Let us normalize therapy, de-stigmatize mental health, and invest in healing,” he said.

Rev. Professor Samuel Oheneba-Dornyo, President of ODUCCP, also underscored the role counselling plays in national development.

“Our society is plagued with unresolved psychological issues, people who are emotionally wounded, who have lost trust and confidence. This is why we are training counsellors: to help reduce mental health challenges affecting people’s thoughts, sleep, and overall well-being.”

He noted that unaddressed emotional struggles often contribute to physical illnesses like hypertension and diabetes.

The University, established in 2014, has trained over 1,000 professionals, including lawyers, pastors, doctors, and educators. It continues to work with institutions such as Trinity Theological Seminary and the Ghana Psychological Society to expand access to quality counselling services.

Dr. Apaak closed by urging national stakeholders to scale up efforts to meet the growing psychosocial needs of Ghanaians, especially in light of rising drug abuse and mental health concerns.