Achimota School Rejects GES Directive To Admit Students With Dreadlocks

The Management of Achimota Senior High School has rejected the directive of the Ghana Education Service (GES). This is as a result of the failure of the school to admit two Rastafarian students with dreadlocks into the school.

This was an outcome of an extensive meeting between the parents of the two boys, officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and management of the school.

According to reports, the Headmistress of the school after a crunch meeting on Monday stated that the school will not compromise on its school rules. However, it will only admit the students if they take off their dreadlocks.

This comes after the GES directed the school to admit two students with dreadlocks. However, the school refused to accept them as a result of unprescribed hairstyle.

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NAGRAT On GES Directive .

However, NAGRAT intimated that GES cannot be making exemptions to students in conforming to school rules.

Speaking at a news conference this afternoon, NAGRAT President, Eric Angel Carbonu said the exemptions will lead to a chaotic school environment in the country. Moreover, he asked the GES to redirect the management of Achimota School to ensure students abide by rules.

“The population of students in Achimota Senior High School is about 4,000 students with about 130 teachers. To be able to manage 4,000 students coming from different homes with different upbringing, different training and different behaviour, we need to have universal rules and regulation that ought to be followed by all students in the school. We cannot begin this day to start making exemptions for individual students based on their belief, based on their culture, based on their tradition, and based on many other issues.

“That will lead to a chaotic school environment. And a chaotic school environment becomes an indiscipline school environment that cannot produce the result that we expect. NAGRAT totally disagrees with the position of the management of the GES.”

Eric Carbonu

NAGRAT Ready To Engage Legally

Also, the Association noted it will file a joinder to any suit that may be filed against Achimota School over its refusal to admit the Rastafarian students.

This comes on the back of the family of one of the students intimating it’s consideration to file a suit against the school as a result of the students denial.

Mr Angel Cabournu said NAGRAT will attach itself to any suit that may arise as a result of the development.

“NAGRAT welcomes anyone who’d want to go to court on this issue and on that of discipline in our schools. When the issue comes up, NAGRAT will attach itself because we are an interested party. That court case will not be limited to the wearing of Rasta. It will expand into the establishment of rules and regulations of our schools. If the court decides that everybody can do whatever he or she likes; you will all be our guests as teachers.”

Eric Carbonu

Professor Aryeetey On GES Decision

Also, the old students of Achimota School have expressed their disagreement with the position of GES.

Thus, the President of the Old Achimotans Association, Professor Ernest Aryeetey described the decision by the Ghana Education Service as “undermining the authority of the School’s governing board.”

In a notice to members, Professor Aryeetey noted the Association is concerned about the breach of school governance and regulations.

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Read Also: GES Directive To Achimota To Admit Rastafarian Students, A Rush Decision- David Acheampong