It’s Our Future…Have Mercy On Us; One Of Dismissed Chiana Students Cries
The eight students at the centre of a provoking viral video targeting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have rendered an unqualified apology to the head of state.
In a video, the students are seen on their knees in tears pleading for leniency.
“Some of us are orphans and from broken homes. We don’t know what to do. Please help us, have mercy on us. We feel so remorseful…We are in our final year and some of us our parents can’t afford a private school”, one of them said.
They called on the Regional Director of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa AKufo-Addo, and the Management of the Chiana Senior High School for leniency holding up their dismissal letters in the video.
The students were dismissed by the Director-General of the GES, Dr Eric Nkansah in a letter dated November 30.
Having received the letter yesterday, the student resorted to pleading for mercy.
“It is my brother and sister taking care of me. It is my future. I don’t know what to do again”, one with a black headscarf said in tears as the eight knelt on a dusty ground.
“We are sorry”, another added followed by one other who chirped in, “we are really sorry”.
They regretfully asserted in the video that their statements were childish play and not meant for social media.
“In fact we regret it..Here’s a letter. They sacked us from the school. We don’t know where to go”.
In mid November 2022, the eight students were captured in a video using unprintable and unforgivable words on the President.
This was followed by an investigation into their conduct by authorities of the school and have subsequently been dismissed.
The general public have been divided on the action taken by the GES.
Whereas some believe this is a step in the right direction, others feel the opposite.
Describing their action as despicable, the Director of education think tank Africa Education Watch (EDUWATCH), Kofi Asare, in an interview said he was happy with the sanction.
In a Facebook post he said, “the right to education is not sacrosanct. It is subject to existing rules and regulations that do not conflict with other primary rights. Discipline is Education!”
A twitter user by name Samuel Ayeh feels there are other appropriate sanctions other than dismissal.
He tweeted, “What happened to Definite internal or external suspension and sufficing correctional measures in our secondary schools? I hold the view that GES has been harsh with the dismissal of the 8 students in Chiana SHS @NUGS_National”.
What happened to Definite internal or external suspension and sufficing correctional measures in our secondary schools? I hold the view that GES has been harsh with the dismissal of the 8 students in Chiana SHS @NUGS_National pic.twitter.com/Bc1POWRtXQ
— Samuel Ayeh (@SamuelAyeh13) January 12, 2023
Another by name Chris Atadika tweeted, “In all this GES sacking of the 8 Chiana SHS students who insulted the president, I hope the students have been given some expert psychological counselling or therapy..if any of them harm them self, I’ll blame the authorities”.
In all this GES sacking of the 8 Chiana SHS students who insulted the president, I hope the students have been given some expert psychological counselling or therapy..if any of them harm them self, I’ll blame the authorities.
— Chris Atadika (@chrisatadika) January 12, 2023
The deputy National Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edem Agbana, stated in a Facebook post, “I am strongly against indiscipline in our schools,but the decision by the GES to dismiss 8 SHS students for allegedly insulting H.E Akufo Addo is harsh and backward. A lesser punishment would have been ideal”.
A section of Ghanaians have joined to plead on their behalf.
“Mr. President, like you did in the case of 14 students who misconducted themselves similarly in 2020 and were dismissed by GES, please forgive these girls too. You said,”everyone deserves a second chance in life”. Give these erring girls a second chance”, Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Clement Apaak tweeted.
Mr. President, like you did in the case of 14 students who misconducted themselves similarly in 2020 and were dismissed by GES, please forgive these girls too. You said,"everyone deserves a second chance in life". Give these erring girls a second chance.https://t.co/SuZR2WEGpD
— Dr. Clement Abas Apaak (@DrApaak) January 12, 2023
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
