The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has condemned what it describes as growing religious discrimination in public secondary schools, warning that such actions violate the 1992 Constitution and undermine the rights of students across the country.
The statement follows recent controversies at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, Tema SHS and other institutions where administrative directives reportedly favoured a particular religious denomination at the expense of students from minority faiths.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, also warned that no child should be prevented from practising their chosen religion, emphasising that the rights of every Ghanaian student must be protected regardless of faith.
He stressed that the Ministry would not tolerate any infringement on students’ religious rights.
The NCPTA, in a statement on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, noted that these developments contradict Articles 12, 17 and 21(1)(c) of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, protection from discrimination, and freedom of religion.
“As public entities, all schools, and their administrators must uphold the supremacy of the Constitution,” the NCPTA said, emphasising that no school—regardless of its religious heritage—has the authority to privilege one faith over another.
The Council argued that because such institutions are funded by taxpayers and parents, they cannot enforce faith-based rules that disadvantage students who do not subscribe to their doctrine.
It stressed that exemptions under Article 14(1)(e) must be applied narrowly and always in the child’s genuine welfare, not to promote a particular denomination.
The NCPTA acknowledged the historic contributions of faith-based institutions to Ghana’s educational system but insisted that tradition must operate within constitutional boundaries.
“Tolerance, respect and openness—not exclusion—have been the foundation of these schools’ achievements,” the Council noted.
As 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 ensure an environment that protects diversity, equality and mutual respect.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference told Citi News in an interview that all major religious groups—including Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, SDAs, and even the Police Service—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) three months ago outlining how religious tolerance should be managed in schools.
