Students at Okwapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Eastern Region have been directed to proceed on an early vacation following violent clashes between the two schools.
The unrest, which reportedly stems from a long-standing rivalry, resulted in the destruction of several classrooms and ancillary facilities, as well as injuries to students.
The Eastern Regional Security Council has condemned the violence and warned that students found culpable will face prosecution.
The destruction of facilities has added pressure to the already inadequate infrastructure in the affected schools.
Six students of Okwapeman Senior High School sustained injuries following a reprisal attack. Four have since been discharged, while two remain under medical care.
The Eastern Regional Security Council has condemned the violence and ordered an early vacation for students of the two schools to restore calm and prevent further reprisal attacks.
The Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Owusu Bempah said, “If you decide to be unruly and your headmaster and staff cannot handle the situation, let me sound a warning of caution. If you are in a group or a mob and decide to flout the law, take the law into your own hands or misbehave, don’t think you won’t be fished out.We cannot arrest the entire school, but the gang leaders must take responsibility. We will look for the ring leaders, and I promise you, you will be prosecuted.”
He warned that, “And if you are asked to vacate the school and decide not to, but instead mix up with miscreants in town to misbehave, we will look for you and treat you like a common criminal. Those of you who pelt stones at the police must also stop. Otherwise, the police will come at you with force.”
The destruction has also raised concerns about the cost of rehabilitating school facilities at a time when government is already investing in infrastructure to address overcrowding and improve conditions in senior high schools.
The Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Awatey says the rivalry between the schools must end, particularly as government works to improve infrastructure and reset the education system.
She says students have been directed to leave the schools immediately after completing their examinations.
“Our expectation as government is to groom you students to take over from us. It takes two to fight. When they pelted the stones, you should have reported for the police to come in, yet you exchanged stones.
Now that government is making efforts to build the infrastructure that will end the double track system and enable us to have single track, this is what you are doing.”
She directed “We are building our nation and resetting our schools and students. If this rivalry has existed for years, with this resetting, put a stop to it. The Regional Education Director has announced that everyone should leave the school latest by 1 p.m. Before 2 p.m., everyone should be gone. Pack your things so that as soon as you finish your paper, you leave. If you are seen in uniform at home, you are on your own. Investigations are going on. We won’t allow you to go scot-free.”
The incident has renewed concerns over growing indiscipline and hooliganism among students of some senior high schools.
The early vacation is expected to provide a cooling off period and prevent further reprisal attacks between the two schools.
Senior high schools would resume on September 18th this month for fresh Academic year.
By Yvonne Neequaye
