Some Ghanaians are laying the blame on the Ghana Education Service (GES) over the recent murder case that has rocked O’Reilly Senior High School.
Edward Sackey, an 18-year-old General Arts student from O’Reilly Senior High School, was fatally stabbed during an altercation with a classmate from the Visual Arts Department on Monday, September 2.
According to reports, the altercation that led to Edward’s death was reportedly sparked by a dispute over personal wealth. Edward was stabbed three times in the chest and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
There are reports that the school authorities, particularly teachers failed to take action during the clash between the two students and after the stabbing occurred.
This unfortunate incident has gotten the X platform buzzing with many citizens sharing their views on the matter. One of the bodies fingered for their indirect role in the case is the GES.
Some users argue that teachers in the Senior High School have been stripped of their power to sanction students who engage in unacceptable actions.
They noted that should they have had that authority, they would have been able to intervene and present the unfortunate demise of Edward.
“GES has taken all disciplinary powers from the teachers. Based on what will they intervene only to be punished by GES after? A useful lesson…No, the new GES rules have forbidden any form of discipline against students by the teachers. If you want to punish, you must write letter through your head to District Director and to Regional Director, justifying why you want to punish and get approval in writing before you can,” a user, @ProfBaidoo1, wrote.
“Teachers have been rendered powerless and useless giving these kids the audacity to behave anyway they can. I mean what’s the country turning into?” a user, @fixondennis, quizzed.
Another user added, “Ebe sad oooo now GES say make them no cane students again”. They further commented, “When U punish a student… U can be in trouble ooo.. So just go to work and do your teaching, go home after closing.”
In 2017, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Rev.Jonathan Bettey, has instructed teachers especially those in public schools to desist from beating pupils and students with canes.
He said the GES does not approve of teachers using canes to whip students when they go wrong adding that is not the only means of disciplining students.
Meanwhile, the father of Edward Sackey, Enoch Sackey, has announced his intention to sue the school following his son’s tragic death.
In an interview with Accra-based CitiNews, Enoch Sackey expressed profound frustration and demanded accountability from the school for the circumstances leading to his son’s death.
“We have to sue the school, we have to hold the school responsible,” Sackey asserted. “We want the school authority to come out and explain why such a thing would happen on school premises, where the teachers, nobody tried to interfere… they were all unconcerned until my son passed away.”
Sackey further criticized the school’s teachers for negligence, noting that his niece had called him to the school due to the fight but he did not understand why the teachers did not handle the situation. “I went to the school in Accra to understand the happenings, but sadly, I found my son covered in blood,” he said.
On Tuesday, Sackey and other family members, dressed in red and black, picketed the school to voice their dissatisfaction. They have expressed disappointment that neither the school administration, the attacker’s family, nor the police have contacted them regarding the incident.
Sackey emphasized, “We want answers from the school authority, and the parents of the boy and the police. We want justice, and we want the school authority to explain to us if the teachers were not at the school when it happened, or they were there, or they did not care.”
The suspect, Godwin, has been apprehended by the Ghana Police Service.