Executive director of the Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), Kofi Asare, has revealed that the public discourse on the violent act carried out by one of the students of Adisadel College on another will not help students.
According to him, the matter must be handled in a manner which ensures minimized impact on the student body of the school. He indicated that there is the need for the school to insulate these students from such publications churned out in the media.
“I think the public discourse on the matter will not help the students, except that I think the student should not have access to the media, so they won’t be distracted. So, the public discourse will not help them so they should try as much as possible to disconnect them from the media and social media so they can concentrate.
“Second is that I expect that the GES would have triggered its guidance and counselling systems at the regional level so that the necessary guidance is provided to both the victim and the culprit. It’s not likely the culprit will write exam from the school, but I think that the counselling they need should be provided. I would have been surprised if it hasn’t been done by now because GES has the necessary mechanism to do just that.”
Kofi Asare
Mr Asare reckoned that “the feeling in the school will not be the same as the feeling outside”, as the violence that broke out is an issue that happened some time ago and even the student who was a victim actually tried to conceal it. He noted that the aura of the issue still hanging is about how it happened and not as much about the effect on the student.
“Because the student who was a student was even able to hide it from the school authorities for some time, and so I think that it might not be that impactful as we think it will be on the examination…”
Kofi Asare
Commenting on the impact of the case on the culprit, Mr Asare acknowledged that the student may likely be affected considering the gravity of the matter. He revealed that although he is not too sure of his age, he reckons he should be an amateur.
“… But if he is 18 years or more, he is aware of the criminal ramifications – especially when the AG, I read in the dailies, has said he’s going to take up the matter. So, on that side, I see much of stress and worry on the boy who is writing the examination.”
Kofi Asare
Meanwhile, the Eduwatch executive director has commended the education minister for his appearance at the school. He explained that this will afford the minister firsthand information about this near fatal incident.
“It has reached national level of attention because even the AG’s office is involved. So, I understand why the minister will be in the school, but I would have also wished that when nine students drowned on their way from school in Gbawe, the minister would have visited those communities and schools because it was fatal, and they were only accessing education because they didn’t have schools in their island communities in Weija-Gbawe. We actually wished and called for him to go there but he didn’t go there. But I’m happy the minister is visiting the school because of the risk visited on one student in a senior high school.”
Kofi Asare
Education minister urged to show concern for public basic school pupils
Mr Asare conceded that the education minister’s visit to the school shows concern for what happened, as well as concern for discipline, lives of the children and the administration of discipline in the school. However, he urged the minister to exact same overtures to other similar events which unfold in schools across the country.
“In the same way, we expect the minister to show similar concerns even when more fatal occurrences take place in public basic schools, so that we get the assurance that the ministry cares equally for basic school pupils, just as it does for senior high school pupils.”
Kofi Asare
Meanwhile, the Adisadel College student who was captured on a viral video choking his colleague has been arrested by the Police in Cape Coast. The arrest came after the video showed the disturbing incident where one student violently attacked another in a dormitory.
Upon apprehending the student, he was cautioned with causing harm and assault, then released to the school’s Headmaster to be produced in court on Friday. The authorities are taking swift action to address the incident and hold the perpetrator accountable for his actions.
The victim on the other hand, has been recalled to the school after initially being suspended and the school is taking measures to ensure his well-being and recovery.
He is currently undergoing medical treatment, and the school has assigned a psychologist to provide him with the necessary support and counselling to help him through the trauma he experienced.
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