The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has issued a stern warning to the Ghana Education Service (GES), demanding urgent intervention to curb the increasing incidents of violence and threats against teachers in schools nationwide.

NAGRAT President Angel Carbonu announced that the Association will begin a series of actions starting June 1, 2025, if the GES fails to implement decisive measures to protect educators.

“The first order of life is self-preservation. If someone can arm himself and harm me, I should be able to come to school armed,” Carbonu stated, reflecting growing anxiety among teachers over their safety in the classroom.

Carbonu further stressed that teachers are prepared to take their safety into their own hands if necessary, remarking, “We will have to protect ourselves. We will have to make sure that no stupid student kills us in the line of our duty.”

His comments follow a spate of alarming incidents in which teachers have been physically attacked or threatened by students, sparking national debate about discipline, safety, and the deteriorating respect for authority in educational institutions.

NAGRAT has strongly criticised the GES and government authorities for what it describes as a “lacklustre” and inadequate response to the issue.

The Association is calling for immediate and concrete action to ensure the safety and security of teachers across the country, warning that continued inaction could have serious consequences for the education sector.

He spoke in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Thursday, May 22.