Students Disturbances: 14 Candidates Dismissed, 3 Teachers Interdicted

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has, in a swift reaction to the pockets of disturbances that has characterised the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), has barred 14 final year students from writing the examination forthwith.

In addition, three teachers have been interdicted and barred from invigilating the examination awaiting the conclusion of investigations into their alleged roles in some of the reported cases.

The GES did not end there, it has consequently directed that all students who are in schools where destruction of school property has occurred should be surcharged for the full cost of the damage.

Affected students/teachers

The affected students are Nicholas Cobbinah, Kardimeil Suapim and John Kwofie of the Sekondi College.

Simon Ameyibor (Senior Prefect), Thomas Anokye and Miss Juliet Amoakowaa of the Tweneboah Koduah SHS.

Emmanuel Ashiangmor, Peter Sissi, Ameka Nyamitse, Shadrack Dailtey and Alfred Attiso of the Battor SHS.

Solomon Brako, Albert Agyekum and Robert Inkoom of the Juaben SHS.

The teachers are Thomas Anokye of Tweneboah Kodua SHS, Joseph Andoh of Sekondi College, and Evans Yeboah of the Kade Senior High and Technical School (SHTS).

All the three teachers have been referred to the security agencies for further investigations.

A press statement dated August 7, 2020 signed and issued by the Director-General of the GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa said “results of these students [those surcharged] will be withheld till they have fully paid up the full cost of the items destroyed.”

It added that all acts of vandalism and other criminal acts should be reported to the security agencies for further investigation and follow-up actions.

Significance of good conduct

The statement said, “these punishments are without prejudice to sanctions that may be taken by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC),” explaining that those measures were necessary to ensure that students appreciate the significance of good conduct and discipline in their actions.

The statement said the directive was to serve as deterrence and to ensure that life and property were protected in the schools.

Condemnation

It condemned all the acts of reported indiscipline and took a very serious view of the conduct of those involved, adding that “management of the GES had received reports from the various schools where issues of indiscipline acts were reported as fallout from the writing of the Integrated Science examination on Monday August 3, 2020.”