Thursday, 28 March

Dismissed Chiana SHS students: GES to find alternative disciplinary action

Education
This comes on the back of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s intervention in the disciplinary action against the students

The Minister for Education (MoE) Dr Yaw Adutwum has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to consider an alternative disciplinary action against the eight students who were dismissed from the Chiana Senior High School (SHS).

This comes on the back of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s intervention in the disciplinary action against the students.

A statement signed by the Spokesperson for the MoE, Kwasi Kwarteng, on Friday, 13 January 2023, disclosed that the Minister directed the GES to find an alternative disciplinary action instead of dismissal.

The students, who were caught on video insulting President Akufo-Addo over the challenges confronting their school, were directed to handover all school property in their possession to school authorities and go home. 

The eight students were directed to go home based on a letter by the Director-General of the GES, Dr Eric Nkansah. 

The said students in a viral video in November 2022, were seen vehemently insulting the President, over his failure to address their school’s challenges and the economy at large.

The GES had launched a probe into the matter after the video of the students, who then were in their second year, went viral.

However, the eight students have apologised to President Akufo-Addo for the insults hurled at him in their viral video.

The students in mufti following their dismissal, looked forlorn as they took turns to apologise in another video that has gone viral.

In a teary voice, Marian Plange-Matiah, the first among the dismissed students to speak in the video on behalf of her mates, pleaded for the forgiveness of the Ministry of Education, the President and all stakeholders as well as Ghanaians. 

“I’m here with my colleagues on our knees to beg the President, the Headmaster, Education office and then our fellow Ghanaians.

“We’re sorry for our video that went viral. We didn’t mean for it to go viral. It was a childish play. We’re sorry and we’re on our knees. Our education means a lot to us. It’s our future, we’re on our knees that the President should please call us back and we call [unto] the teachers too to join with us to plead,” she said.

The second dismissed student in tears, also pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to forgive them to enable them go back to school.

Janet Ndamile said: “I wasn’t having the intention to do that, I took it as a joke.”

The students, who eventually went on their knees, were in tears.

They took turns to plead with government and the Education Ministry to have their dismissal rescinded. 

“Please they’ve sacked us from the school, we’re on our way to the house, please help us,” another of the dismissed students pleaded while on her knees.

Yet another student begged the “Headmistress, Regional Education Office, Regional Director, Regional Minister. Please, you people should forgive us. President of Ghana, we’re begging you in the name of God, help us. 

“This is my future, I don’t have anywhere to go. I’m being taken care of by my brother and sister. If my father hears this, he’ll die.” 

The female student’s dismissal letter was sent by the GES to the headmistress of the school on 29 November 2022.

Source: classfmonline.com/Elikem Adiku