An Educationist Mr. George Ackom has stated that Ghana Education Service did well in suspending Ghana Senior High School GHANASCO headmaster Douglas Haruna Yakubu and the senior housemaster of the school for investigations to be conducted into the matter.
He added that the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), fighting for the reinstatement of the headmaster and the senior housemaster is also in a right direction.
Speaking on Plan B FM late afternoon show EBAANOSEN, he said that, looking at the political landscape in the country, the video of students sleeping in the corridors of a washroom that went viral looks like sabotage on the side of the school authorities but thorough investigations should have been done before any action can be applied
“political disinformation and misinformation is a threat to good governance” he said
But in a statement according to GES, the school turning a toilet into an accommodation facility is unacceptable since records indicate that the school is supposed to have excess accommodation capacity for 300 students.
In a statement issued on Sunday, April 16, 2023, the GES indicated that the headmaster and the housemaster have been suspended pending an investigation into the matter, which is expected to last two weeks.
“The attention of the Management of Ghana Education Service has been drawn to a viral video being circulated on social media showing some students of Ghana Senior High School, Tamale, using toilet cubicles as dormitories.
“This is very disturbing and unfortunate especially when records available to us indicate that, out of the 1790 vacancies declared by the school, only 1467 students have enrolled. The school is expected to have excess capacity to even house extra 300 students. It is thus, unacceptable to have students sleep in such a place.
“The Headmaster and the Senior Housemaster have been directed to step aside to allow for further investigations into the matter by the Regional Director of Education and report back in two weeks,” parts of the statement read.
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is demanding the immediate reinstatement of the headmaster of the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The headmaster, Douglas Haruna Yakubu, and the school’s senior housemaster were directed by the GES to step aside to allow for further investigations into a viral video where some of the students of GHANASCO were seen using washroom cubicles as dormitories.
Speaking to the Media on the matter, the General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Musah said the GES breached the rules of engagement regarding the profession, hence the call for the reinstatement of the headmaster.
“Why should you in a rush go and issue a statement interdicting the person, putting the person in the public for ridicule? Do you know you have humiliated the head? You have broken his confidence and that, you don’t handle professionals like that. The matter should have been investigated. GES should do the needful by reinstating the man and let’s move forward, he came to meet the matter he didn’t create it,” he said.
He also complained about the delay in the release of the capitation grant by the government for over two years for the effective running of schools in the country.
“Capitation grant has not been paid for over two years now, and the government’s interventions for SHSs have been in arrears for over 3 years. What are we talking about,” the General Secretary of GNAT stated.
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