The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a statement urging heads of schools not to turn away newly admitted students or refuse to accommodate them due to the type of metal trunks or wooden chop boxes they bring to school. According to the GES, these practices may impose unnecessary financial burdens on parents and guardians who may be unable to afford alternative storage containers prescribed by individual schools.
The statement, signed by Professor Mrs Smile Dzisi, the Deputy GES Director-General, was prompted by reports that some senior high schools and senior high technical schools (SHS/SHTS) were turning newly admitted students or refusing to accommodate them because of the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container they brought to school. The GES emphasized that all students admitted to boarding accommodation should be treated fairly and accommodated without discrimination based on their economic circumstances.
The GES has asked regional directors to inform all heads to desist from turning away or refusing admissions to duly admitted students solely on the basis of the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container they bought to school. Provided the item is reasonably sized, safe, and does not pose a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of other students, those students must not be refused accommodation.
The statement also mentioned that any reported case of a duly admitted student being denied accommodation or turned away solely because of the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container brought to school should be investigated and reported to management. Heads of SHS/SHTS who flout this directive shall be dealt with in accordance with the applicable standards, regulations, and laws of the service.
This warning from the GES aims to ensure that all students have equal access to education, regardless of their economic background. The service is committed to providing a fair and inclusive learning environment for all students.
In a related development, a 40-year-old Ghanaian driver, Amos Kojo Andrews, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for his involvement in human trafficking-related offences. The Denu Circuit Court imposed five years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts against Andrews, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently, resulting in an effective prison term of five years.
The Ghana Immigration Service has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities that could lead to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of persons involved in bringing unsuspecting victims into the country. The service remains committed to securing the country’s borders and protecting individuals who were lured with promises of employment but subsequently found themselves in situations that undermined their dignity.
Key points
- The Ghana Education Service has warned schools against turning away students due to the type of trunks or chop boxes they bring to school.
- The warning aims to ensure equal access to education for all students, regardless of their economic background.
- A 40-year-old driver has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for human trafficking-related offences.
