Nkoranza (B/A) Nov. 22, GNA - The staff and students of Effa Junior Secondary School at Sessiman in Nkoranza could not attend classes on Monday as some unknown persons had smeared the classrooms, tables and chairs with a common herb called "apea" in Twi.

The herb causes itchy and burning sensation on the human body so when the teachers and students entered the rooms and came into contact with it their bodies started itching and could therefore not stay in for any teaching and learning.

Mr. Ben Akosah-Barfi, Headmaster, said some unidentified people had turned the school into a "wee" smoking den in the night as pieces of the smoked stuff are found on the school compound every morning. "They also defecate outside the classrooms and the whole compound stinks," he added.

The headmaster said barely two months ago, thieves invaded the school and made away with a wall-clock, exercise books and other stationery from the office.

Mr. John Opoku Ampoh, Circuit supervisor in-charge of Nkoranza who visited the school expressed shock at the scene and wondered why some people had still not grasped the importance of education. He called on the unit committee, Assembly Member and the chief of the area to meet and decide on how to check such bad practices.

The school management committee and the executives of the parent-teacher association should form a task force to visit the school after close of classes.

Meanwhile, the Headmaster and the Circuit supervisor have sent a situational report of the school with regard to the negative practices to the district director of education, Mr. Kwabena Agyemang-Badu.