The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has condemned what it calls growing religious discrimination in public secondary schools, warning that such practices violate the 1992 Constitution and undermine students’ rights nationwide.

The statement follows recent controversies at schools including Wesley Girls’ Senior High School and Tema SHS, where administrative directives reportedly favoured certain religious denominations over students from minority faiths.

Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu warned that no child should be prevented from practising their chosen religion. He emphasised that the Ministry would not tolerate any infringement on students’ religious rights.

In a statement issued the same day, the NCPTA cited 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 Council said, stressing that no school, even with a religious heritage has the authority to privilege one faith over another.

The NCPTA argued that because these institutions are funded by taxpayers and parents, they cannot enforce faith-based rules that disadvantage students who do not follow their doctrine. It added that exemptions under Article 14(1)(e) must be applied narrowly and always with the child’s welfare in mind, not to promote a particular denomination.

While acknowledging the historic contributions of faith-based schools to Ghana’s education system, the NCPTA 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.

The Council urged school heads, administrators, and stakeholders to respect students’ constitutional freedoms and foster environments that promote diversity, equality, and mutual respect.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference stated 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 guidelines for managing religious tolerance in schools.