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North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called out the Ghana Education Service (GES) following the sanctions it meted out to some 14 students involved in the disturbances that have characterized the ongoing West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The GES in a statement issued on Friday announced the dismissal of the students and further stopping them from writing the rest of the papers.
But reacting to the development, Mr. Ablakwa, who was also a former deputy Education Minister under the John Mahama regime described the action of the GES as “harsh” and “high-handed”.
He adds that the decision will not address the situation.
“I have always subscribed to punishment that reforms and not punishment that destroys.
“The offending students could be made to sign a bond of good behaviour, allowed to complete the final examinations after wcounselinglease of their results may be delayed until surcharging and counselling obligations have been carried out. We do not have to destroy the future of these teenagers”, Mr. Ablakwa stated investigation post.
The lawmaker is however proposing an independent investigations into the matter rather than to resort to “arbitrary punishment”.
“While pursuing reformative punishment I propose, it is absolutely essential that independent investigations are conducted into the circumstances that led to the rather strange expectations and the conditions that have brought us to this embarrassing juncture.”
Read full statement below
To be succinct: the GES sanctions meted out to the named SHS students are harsh, high-handed, whimsical and could prove counterproductive.
I am one of many who have already condemned the misconduct of the WASSCE candidates which we saw in viral videos on social media.
However, if there must be punishment, although I take the view that their apologies could have been considered – I have always subscribed to punishment that reforms and not punishment that destroys.
The offending students could be made to sign a bond of good behaviour, allowed to complete the final examinations after which the release of their results may be delayed until surcharging and counselling obligations have been carried out. We do not have to destroy the future of these teenagers.
While pursuing the reformative punishment I propose, it is absolutely essential that independent investigations are conducted into the circumstances that led to the rather strange expectations and conditions that have brought us to this embarrassing juncture. In other words – who told the students to expect a particular set of questions? Who assured them of weak and compromised invigilation? Why did some teachers gang up with students to attack WAEC officials? Why does it appear that students were simply not prepared for the WASSCE, what went wrong?
These are fundamental issues for which we must seek urgent answers and for which arbitrary destructive punishment does not address.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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