22 second-year students and 5 third-year students from Saint Bernadette’s Technical Institute in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region have been suspended indefinitely by the school’s Principal, Miss Memuna Fuseini.
In a letter that was signed by the principal, it was claimed that on December 4, 2022, the students had engaged in a riot that resulted in the destruction of school property and put the lives of the school’s staff at risk.
Some students who spoke to our reporter, Moses Apiah, on the condition of anonymity explained that the account of events of the management of the school was skewed.
According to them, it all started when two boys stole some phones belonging to their colleagues on campus.
“They were later reported to the school house master that evening where the master assured all of us that the school authorities will look into the matter and punish the students [involved in the theft]. But after he [the master] left the campus, a fraction of the students [phone owners] started throwing stones at the two boys [who stole the phone] and their friends. Then and there the whole riot started. So, the following day we were all called to the school hall where some opinion leaders, the paramount chief of the area, and the Municipal Chief Executive were all present. And we were all asked to sign a bond of good behaviour which we did before going on vacation. And just today after we returned from vacation, our names were mentioned that we should park our things and leave the school. Indefinite suspension, the Principal said to us.”
According to the students, similar theft cases have led to dismissals.
“They have since not called back to the school. Last week, one of them call us and said he was in Kumasi hustling. So, as she asked us to go home, we have no choice but to go”, they added.
The Principal of the School, Miss Memuna remained tight lipped about the situation when contacted by our reporter.
The MCE for the Kassena-Nankana Municipality, Joseph Adongo, disagreed with the punishment meted out to the students.
According to him, he was part of a committee set up in the school to investigate the matter. He is however yet to be briefed about the matter.
“I was part of the committee, even if there is something or a decision to be taken, at least courtesy will tell you to inform me of it but not to solely sack the students. In this century, come on.”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
