A school is meant to be a place of refuge. A temple of learning. But what happens when the temple itself is under attack?
The recent events at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, where students turned on the headmaster, and school property, should worry all of us.
This was not the first time. And if we are honest, it will not be the last unless we do something different.
This Has Happened Before
We have seen this movie in Ghana. Dormitories burnt. Students of clashing with authorities in. Cases of assault on headmasters and teachers have been reported across regions over the last decade. It is not only Ghana. In Kenya, school fires have become almost an annual ritual.
Nigeria and South Africa have dealt with gangs and attacks on teachers. Even in the US and UK, schools have had to deal with violence, weapons, and total breakdown of discipline. The difference is how they responded. There is a proverb that says: “When the roots of a tree begin to rot, it is the leaves that first show it.” The broken windows and beaten teachers are the leaves. The real problem is underground.
What It Costs Us
This is not about property. The damage goes deeper. Students lose. Learning stops. Some become afraid to come to school. Others learn the wrong lesson – that violence is how you get heard. Many will carry that anger into adulthood. Teachers and headmasters lose too. Who wants to lead a school where enforcing rules can get you attacked?
Many are now managing fear instead of managing schools. Good people are leaving the profession. And society loses most. A nation that cannot keep order in its classrooms should not expect order in its offices and streets. “If the youth are not trained, the nation will train them in prison.
What Other Countries Did
Countries that faced this did three things: they prevented, they punished, and they supported. The US and UK made reporting of assaults compulsory. They put counselors in schools and used restorative justice instead of just suspensions. They also made school safety data public. Japan and Finland went after the culture. Teachers are respected by law and by society.
Parents are held responsible when their children destroy property. Students have real channels to complain before things boil over. Australia and Canada put social workers in schools. They track bullying, mental health, and truancy early. They intervene before a child picks up a stone. The lesson is simple: you cannot beat your way out of this problem. You must build your way out.
What GES Must Do Now
Count it and publish it. GES should release yearly data on violence and vandalism in schools. We cannot fix what we hide. Counsel, don’t just suspend. Every SHS needs a working counseling unit. Set up peer mediation. Deal with grievances before they become riots.
“The one who fetches ant-infested firewood should not complain about lizards. “Back your leaders. A teacher or headmaster assaulted on duty must see the law act fast. At the same time, train heads in leadership, not just paperwork.
This is on All of Us
Students: Rights without responsibility are chaos. A school is not a battleground. “A child who says his mother will not sleep will also not sleep. “Parents: Pay attention. Know your child. If your child breaks school property, be ready to pay. Discipline starts at home. School Heads: Be firm, but be fair. Listen. Most protests start from small issues ignored for too long. Society:
We cannot celebrate indiscipline online and condemn it in class. Chiefs, pastors, imams, and the media must all speak with one voice on respect. Government: Fund counseling, security, and infrastructure. Overcrowded dorms and broken furniture create frustration. Enforce laws that protect teachers.
Final Word
Obuasi Sec Tech is a warning. If we treat it as just another headline, we will be here again next year, with a different school name. “It is the ruin of a nation to make the young ones the judges of their elders.” We must restore respect. We must restore order. We must remember that a school is sacred ground. The time to act is not after the next attack. The time is now.
By Dr. Ebenezer Arthur Duncan
The writer is a lecturer at University of Professional Studies, Marketing Department
