The National Council of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Ghana has expressed appreciation to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for taking steps towards reopening Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS), following its temporary closure over an alleged sexual assault incident.
The Council says the move offers hope for the affected students, particularly Form Three students whose academic activities have been disrupted as they prepare for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Obuasi SHTS was temporarily closed on August 5, 2026, following the alleged incident, prompting concerns about student safety, accountability and the impact of the closure on teaching and learning.
While Form One and Form Two students have continued schooling, Form Three students have remained at home, according to the Council.
Speaking at a PTA meeting at Badu Bonsu Senior High School in Agona Ahanta, the National Secretary of the Council, Gapson Kofi Raphael, called on the Ministry of Education and GES to consider arrangements that would allow final-year students to resume classes while investigations continue.
The Council welcomes the steps being taken by GES and urged the Service to ensure that any reopening arrangements prioritise the safety and well-being of students, while protecting the academic future of those not implicated in the alleged incident.
Gapson Raphael stressed that the Council supports a thorough investigation and appropriate sanctions for anyone found culpable, but maintained that students should not be made to suffer unnecessarily because of the alleged misconduct of others.
“We support investigations, but as our elders say, you do not burn down the house because of a rat,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Council has called for stronger measures to prevent sexual abuse in schools, urging teacher unions, school authorities and parents to work together to protect students.
“The classroom is for chalk, not for bed,” Mr Raphael said, emphasising that teachers found responsible for sexual abuse should face appropriate disciplinary action, including removal from the teaching profession where warranted.
He acknowledged the commitment of many teachers to their work but warned that misconduct by some individuals could undermine public confidence in the profession.
The National PTA Council has also urged parents to take an active interest in their children’s welfare, monitor their conduct and maintain regular communication with school authorities.
Students, on their part, have been encouraged to obey school rules and report inappropriate conduct or suspected abuse to trusted adults and the appropriate authorities.
The Council says it remains committed to working with GES, school authorities, teachers and parents to promote discipline, student safety and uninterrupted access to education.
By Portia Cudjoe
