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The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has expressed strong concern over what it describes as increasing incidents of religious discrimination in public secondary schools, warning that such practices violate the 1992 Constitution and threaten the rights of students nationwide.
The Council’s statement comes in the wake of recent controversies at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, Tema Senior High School, and other institutions where administrative directives were reportedly issued in favour of particular religious denominations—often to the disadvantage of students from minority faiths.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, cautioned school authorities that no Ghanaian child should be restricted from practising their chosen religion. He stressed that the Ministry would not tolerate any form of discrimination or infringement on students’ religious freedoms and urged all educational institutions to uphold the constitutional rights of every learner.
NCPTA Cites Constitutional Breaches
In its statement issued on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the NCPTA cited Articles 12, 17, and 21(1)(c) of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, freedom from discrimination, and freedom of religion.
The Council insisted that as publicly funded institutions, secondary schools are mandated to respect these provisions irrespective of their religious history or affiliations.
“As public entities, all schools, and their administrators must uphold the supremacy of the Constitution,” the NCPTA asserted, adding that no school—regardless of its founding denomination—has the authority to privilege one faith over another.
The Council further emphasised that while Article 14(1)(e) allows certain restrictions in the interest of public order, such exemptions must be applied narrowly, strictly in the genuine welfare of the child, and never as a means to promote a particular religious denomination.
Historic Role of Faith-Based Schools Acknowledged
The NCPTA recognised the longstanding contributions of faith-based organisations to Ghana’s education sector but stressed that tradition must operate within the framework of the Constitution.
“Tolerance, respect and openness—not exclusion—have been the foundation of these schools’ achievements,” the statement added.
Call for Inclusivity and Adherence to the MoU on Religious Tolerance
As nationwide calls grow for fairness and inclusivity in public schools, the NCPTA urged school heads, administrators and stakeholders to respect the constitutional freedoms of all students and to foster an environment that protects diversity, equality and mutual respect.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference revealed to Citi News that all major religious groups—including Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Seventh-Day Adventists, and even the Police Service—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) three months ago outlining guidelines for managing religious tolerance in schools.
