Editorial
Addressing school authorities -students relationship important
Dear Editor
The behaviour of the Assistant Headmaster of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Senior High School who was recently dismissed by the Ghana Education Service (GES) for fondling a female student should serve as a wake up call for stakeholders in our education sector.
Although I find what transpired between him and the student that was captured on video unfortunate, I am of the view that the decision taken by the GES was a good one.
However, I believe that the incident that led to the dismissal of the Assistant Headmaster is one of many of such incidents that happens in our junior and senior high schools and have not been taken notice of.
There are instances where some female students complain about issues such as sexual harassment by their teachers and headmasters but no action had been taken.
My question then is, for how long should we wait for videos of such incidents to go viral before an action is taken?
I think it is about time that the GES collaborates with key stakeholders in the educational sector, including Parents Teacher Associations (PTA), school authorities, and civil society organisations to address such issues.
It will be important for appropriate measures such as strict monitoring of the relationship between students and school authorities.
Secondly, young learners must be empowered to report such incidents to school authorities. Sometimes, they go unreported because the children fear they might be victimised.
Establishing these kind of measures would not only help address the issue but also protect the mental health of students who suffer from these harassment from their teachers and school authorities or even seniors.
Instead, the headmistress/headmasters and teachers should advise the children on why they were in the school first.
Raising the children is first and foremost a key responsibility of parents but we also understand that these children spends more time in the school environment than the home, except the weekends.
That places a huge responsibility on them as trained teachers to help in shaping the lives of these learners.
Abraham Moore,
Ekumfi
Dear Editor,
I WRITE to express my growing concern about the increasing display of adult content on some television stations in the country.
These programmes, often aired during hours when children are most likely to be watching, pose a serious threat to their moral development and general well-being.
Television remains one of the strongest influences on young people, and stations have a responsibility to ensure that their content reflects the values we seek to instil in our society.
Unfortunately, some channels appear to prioritise sensationalism and profit over public safety and decency.
Such content not only exposes children to material they are not prepared to process but also undermines parents’ efforts to guide their behaviour.
I call on the National Media Commission (NMC) and other regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring and enforce stricter guidelines to protect viewers, especially minors.
Broadcasters must be reminded of their duty to promote responsible and wholesome programming.
Our airwaves should uplift, educate, and inform — not endanger the moral fabric of the next generation.
Eugene Ampiaw,
Accra
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dear Editor,
I AM writing to share my thoughts on the ongoing issue at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, which has attracted national attention after the Deputy Attorney General released a statement in court.
The matter is about whether Muslim students are being denied the right to freely practice their religion, and whether they are being compelled to follow practices that go against their faith.
To me, this is not just a legal issue but a question of fairness and respect in our schools.
While the Constitution guarantees every student the right to practice their faith, schools also have traditions and rules that must be respected. As the saying goes, “When you go to Rome, you do what Romans do.” If a teacher is teaching, it is not right for a student to suddenly leave for prayers. That disrupts learning.
Instead, schools should provide a clear time and place for worship, so that students can honour their faith without disturbing academic work. There is time for everything; time to learn, and time to pray.
Wesley Girls SHS can continue to uphold its Methodist heritage while also respecting the rights of Muslim students.
This compromise will protect unity and ensure that our schools remain places of both discipline and inclusion.
Princess Wonovi
Accra
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
