Akufo-Addo’s Intervention Not Interference; Education Ministry On Chiana SHS Girls
The Ministry of Education has stated that the intervention by President Akufo-Addo in the decision to dismiss the eight students of Chiana Senior High School isn’t interference.
In an interview, the spokesperson of the Ministry, Kwesi Kwarteng, clang to the positive implication of the President’s intervention.
“I wouldn’t call it interference because we have to look at the intent of the President. Even if it is an interference then it’s a positive interference that is supposed to get the students back to school.”
Eight girls from Chiana Senior High School in the Upper East Region were handed dismissal letters this week following their misconduct in a video that circulated in November last year.
They were captured in the video making derogatory remarks against President Akufo-Addo.
The Director-General of the GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, in the dismissal letters indicated that the conduct of the girls is “undesirable and contrary to acceptable standards of conduct generally required of any student in our educational system in Ghana”.
A section of the general public condemned the action of the GES noting that a more lenient punishment could have been adopted.
A press release from the Ministry of Education later disclosed the President intervened when the development came to his attention.
The sector Minister has on that note directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to rescind the decision.
In the interview Kwesi Kwarteng confirmed the intervention of the president has ruled out the dismissal option.
He added, “Its up to us to take the students through proper counselling, at the same time, where sanctions ought to be meted out, it will be meted out especially in a commensurate proportional manner.”
A section of the public feels the President is interfering in the affairs of the GES.
The Executive Director of Africa Education, Kofi Asare in an interview said interference in decisions of schools spans from all angles from influential persons in the society and observes, “that has not helped our schools”.
“We want to build a strong institution. When rules that are meant to run institutions are seen to be breached and the rules are being fairly applied, let’s appreciate it but let’s not intervene. Most times, our emotional intervention does not help the administration of discipline in our schools.”
He underscored the need to give institutions the needed independence to administer regulations.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
