Regional News of Friday, 11 July 2003

Source: GNA

Obuasi SECTECH committee inaugurated

Obuasi, July 11, GNA - A committee mandated to investigate circumstances leading to acts of vandalism and indiscipline at the Obuasi Secondary/Technical School (SECTECH), was inaugurated on Thursday.

Recently, students of the institution were said to have smeared faeces on the bungalows of their tutors and pulled down part of the school's fence wall.

The committee has Mr O.K. Tweneboah-Kodua, Assistant Director of Prisons in-charge of Obuasi Prison, as chairman with Mr Ernest Yaw Kwarteng, Deputy District Co-ordinating Director as secretary. The other members are Miss Diana Ofori-Owusu of the District Education Office and Mr Wisdom Lavoe, the Obuasi Divisional Crime Officer.

Inaugurating the committee at Obuasi, Mr Joseph K. Boampong, Adansi West District Chief Executive (DCE), urged the Committee to complete its assignment on schedule to enable the school authorities to implement recommendations to ensure discipline.

He asked the students and the headmaster to cooperate with the committee to guarantee law and order for effective academic work. Mr Boampong said though he was not pre-empting the committee's suggestions, students who would be found guilty should be dismissed to serve as a deterrent to others adding, "if even they are writing their final examinations."

Mr Lavoe on behalf of the committee thanked the DCE for the confidence reposed in members and pledged that they would work steadfastly and assiduously.

Nana James Oppong, headmaster, assured the Committee of his support and said measures were being initiated to check the movement of students to town at odd hours.

He appealed to the people to assist the school authorities to maintain order to facilitate teaching and learning.

The committee, which has two weeks to submit its report, will among other things identify the perpetrators of the act of indiscipline and destruction and come out with suggestions to help prevent future such occurrences and promote academic work in the school.