A group of men dressed in military uniforms and masks attempted to attack the headmistress and staff of a senior high technical school in Ghana, according to a report by GhanaWeb. The incident occurred in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District, where the school authorities had seized the mobile phones of students to prevent examination malpractices.
The report said that one of the students who was unhappy with the decision went home to inform his brothers, who then drove two saloon cars into the school compound and demanded the release of the phones. They also threatened to harm the school officials if they did not comply. The headmistress, Mrs. Juliana Azazu, and some staff members had to flee to the nearby bushes for safety, while the rest of the students and teachers were left in fear.
The report added that the police arrested four suspects in connection with the attack, but they were later granted bail without being charged. The headmistress expressed her concern over the security situation in the area and appealed to the police to expedite the investigation and prosecution of the culprits. She also urged the government and the education service to provide adequate protection for schools and teachers.
The attack on the school is not an isolated incident, as Ghana has witnessed several cases of violence and intimidation in educational institutions in recent years. In 2020, some students of the Bright Senior High School in the Eastern Region assaulted WAEC officials and a journalist during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The students were reportedly angry over the strict supervision of the exams and accused the officials of being too harsh.
In 2019, some students of the Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi also attacked their headmaster and vandalised school property over the seizure of their mobile phones. The students claimed that they needed the phones to study for their exams and communicate with their parents. The headmaster sustained injuries and was hospitalised for treatment.
These incidents have raised concerns over the quality and integrity of education in Ghana, as well as the safety and welfare of teachers and students. Some stakeholders have called for more efforts to curb examination malpractices and instill discipline and moral values in the students. They have also suggested the need for more dialogue and collaboration among the government, the education service, the parents, the teachers, and the students to address the challenges facing the sector.
Despite the challenges, there are also signs of hope and progress in the education system in Ghana. The government has introduced several reforms and initiatives to improve access, equity, and quality of education, such as the free senior high school policy, the new curriculum, and the teacher professional development programme. The education service has also intensified its monitoring and evaluation of schools and teachers to ensure compliance with standards and regulations. The parents and the students have also shown appreciation and support for the efforts of the government and the teachers to provide quality education.
Source: GhanaWeb
