Rising Incidence of Tattoos, Piercings, and Skin Bleaching Among Students Raises Concern for GES

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has voiced concerns about the increasing prevalence of tattoos, multiple piercings, and skin bleaching among students, considering it a troubling trend.

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They’re also worried about issues like teenage pregnancies and cohabitation, especially their negative impact on students’ education, particularly girls.

During visits to various districts in the Central Region as part of the ‘Life Skills Programme’ aimed at empowering students, Priscilla Christabel Eshun, the Central Regional Girls Education Officer of the GES, noted with surprise that some students had noticeable tattoos with unique meanings. These observations were presented at the Second Quarter Sub-Implementing Partners Review Meeting on sexual and gender-based violence, facilitated by the Regional Coordinating Council with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Eshun highlighted instances where students had excessively bleached their skin and had multiple piercings, attributing these trends to fashion without considering the potential health, employment, and socio-economic consequences. She also mentioned that some boys had dropped out of school and were operating tricycles, with investigations revealing that many girls associated with them for financial support, using the money for personal items like sanitary pads.

She emphasized that the GES prohibits tattoos, multiple piercings, and skin bleaching as outlined in its Code of Conduct for pre-tertiary school students. Additionally, students are required to dress neatly, adhere to prescribed dress codes, and avoid certain accessories like chains and caps. Modifications to uniforms are not allowed, and spectacles can only be worn with a valid medical prescription.

Regarding grooming, students are encouraged to maintain clean, neat, and modest hair, avoiding extreme styles and colors. Male students are expected to have a styled haircut and a clean-shaven beard.