TUTORS BLAMED FOR GHANASCO DEMONSTRATION (PAGE 11, JULY 9, 2010)

THE Committee set up to investigate the disturbances that led to the closure of the Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale about a month ago, has blamed the incident partly on the failure by the tutors of the school to promptly address the grievances of the students.
The committee also faulted the tutors for the way they handled the seizure of mobile phones of the students. It noted that the operation was not only unco-ordinated but lacked credibility.
While some of the students were made to smash their seized cell phones, others were kept at the senior housemaster’s office, while some were clandestinely returned to their owners by some of the tutors.
Presenting the report to the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba in Tamale, the Chairman of the inability, Mr Charles Nyabu, further mentioned the incapability of the tutors to instil discipline into the students as some of the causes that led to the violence.
The committee, which was inaugurated on Wednesday, June 2 with a two-week mandate to complete its work, had to add another week due to the nature of the task.
Mr Nyabu further noted that even though there were other remote causes, the seizure of students’ mobile phones was the immediate basis for the riot and described the students’ action as most unfortunate.
Mr Mabengba commended the committee for its sacrifice and a good work done and said the report would be submitted to the Minister of Education to study after which the recommendations would be implemented.
Students of GHANASCO rioted on May 30 this year, against the ban of the use of mobile phones on campus by the school authorities. In the process, about three teacher's bungalows were vandalised, while a motorbike belonging to one of the tutors was burnt.The students also smashed the windsreen and dented the Light Armoured vehicle of the Police and further smashed the windscreens of the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education’s vehicle and a taxi cab belonging to the husband of a female tutor.
The school, which is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary, was subsequently closed down. It has, however, been re-opened after the students had signed a bond to be of good behaviour.