Former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Professor Stephen Adei, has called on relevant stakeholders in the education sector to hold headmasters and headmistresses responsible for bullying happening in schools.
His comment comes in the wake of a horrifying assault that took place at Adisadel College where a form three student bullied a junior.
The unfortunate incident happened on 30th June, 2023 in Quaque house. In a viral video, the culprit was sighted hitting the head of the victim on a metal bed. The victim suffered a cut and bled. It is unknown the genesis of the incident.
Reacting to the incident, Prof Adei called for the dismissal of heads of schools under who tutelage such unfortunate incidents happen.
According to him, only severe sanctions meted to those in authority can finally rid the canker in the bud.
Speaking on JoyNews on Tuesday, July 25, he said: “I believe it depends on the educational authorities. The victims must know that they are totally protected and then it will not happen.
“This idea of he is a child playing, forgive them, warn them – no! Nobody has the right of hurting another person just because he is younger than you. If we don’t allow it in our homes, we should not allow it in the schools.
“The head teachers condone it. I believe the protection has to come from management and I believe that when we start punishing the head mistresses and head teachers for allowing it, because they know it happens. They can’t say it doesn’t happen.”
Management of Adisadel College has imposed sanctions on a number of students involved in the assault.
Pending final decision of Board of Governors and Ghana Education Service (GES), management of Adisal College has outrightly dismissed the culprit and will have to write his exams at West African Examination Council (WAEC).
The culprit has also been referred to the Police for further action.
The other sanctions are as follows:
The victim in the incident will be suspended and will write his exams with parental escort.
The said student who recorded the video will be suspended externally for one week and also face internal suspension for another week.
The other students who were at the scene but did not intervene and also failed to report the incident will also face severe internal punishment, the tweet added.
Also, the housemaster and his Deputy who are to supervise the behaviour of students they are responsible for will be suspended immediately pending the outcome of the findings by GES.
Meanwhile, the GES has directed the Regional Director of Education to collaborate closely with both the school authorities and the relevant law enforcement agency to resolve the matter.
Source: The Independent Ghana