Conference of School Improvement Support Officers (CoSISOs), Volta Region has urged basic school heads to place equal value on affective domain of human development to address gross indiscipline in schools.

Mr Patrick Glawu, a representative of CoSISOs, speaking at the second Regional Quadrennial Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) in Ho emphasised the importance of inculcating Ghanaian values such as honesty, respect for elderly and authority, hard work, integrity among others in young learners.

He asked the school heads to consider that as part of their resolutions, saying, unlike in the past where headteachers did not have a voice, COHBS now had the power to make inputs into the formulation of education policies for basic education institutions.

“The level of indiscipline and immoral behaviours such as substance abuse, promiscuous sexual lives and disrespect for authority among our learners, is beyond expectation.

There is therefore the need to place equal value on the third domain of human development, that is the effective domain. All the time, emphasis is on cognitive and physical, but the affective domain is where the values belong.”

Mr Glawu stressed that focusing solely on academic achievement was not enough, but schools must also prioritise character development saying, it would do no good to the region and by extension, the country when its citizens attained the highest level of “book knowledge” but lacked values.

Mr Eric Gamadeku, the Head of Inspectorate, Ghana Education Service, Volta Region said schools played a vital role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage and traditions, alluding to a cultural performance by some learners.

The learners who performed “atsyiagbekor” dance also danced “borborbor” but without the usual twerking that had recently characterised the dance, which made Mr Gamadeku remark that it had been long he saw the authentic borborbor as displayed by the young learners, noting, “The school is important in sustaining traditions and cultural heritage.”

There were other solidarity messages at the two-day event, themed “Empowering Heads, Enhancing Education Leadership for Quality Basic Education” with the speakers highlighting the crucial role of headteachers who they said were not just administrators but leaders.

Mr Francis Y. Agbemadi, the Volta Regional Director of Education, in a message on his behalf said empowered leaders could create a ripple effect of positive change and called for wisdom and unity to guide COHBS’ deliberations.

“Let this gathering be a platform for renewal and commitment to transforming basic education for the benefit of Ghana’s children,” he added.

Mr Edward Sedzro, a lecturer at Ho Technical University highlighted the struggles faced by teachers and the need for school heads’ support and understanding to ensure teachers’ mental health as that would directly impact learners’ performance and well-being.