... for misconduct; they are to write examination under escort

Tema, July 05, GNA -- Over 200 final year students of the Tema Secondary School (TEMASCO), have been suspended indefinitely for misconduct.

With effect from Tuesday, the affected students, both females and males would be allowed to write their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, (SSSCE) only under police escort.

A source close to the school disclosed to the Ghana News Agency that on June 22, this year a roll call was conducted during the school's morning assembly and those who were absent at the time were asked to bring their parents to the school.

Unfortunately most of them were among those on school list with bad records, it added.

It however, said the news of suspension as a disciplinary action against those students was broken to parents and all efforts to get the school to rescind its decision proved futile. Meanwhile, one of the letters addressed to the parents dated 22/06/2005 signed by the Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Eunice N. Quansah, stated in part "your ward refuses to attend all school gatherings and classes, she creates a lot of problems for the school, especially her stay in the dormitory and others shouting and making noise during classes hours which disturbs the peace of the school". The letters were copied to the school's Board Chairman, Assistant Headmaster One and Two, Senior Housemaster and Mistress as well as the Principal Accountant.

It further stated that "she is suspended indefinitely, she will however be allowed to write the SSSCE under Police escort to be arranged by you, parent".

It then warned that "she should not be found in and around the school before the start of the SSSCE and after writing each days paper. When GNA visited the school around 10.00 hours on Tuesday morning some of the students were seen trying to get their trunk and chop boxes out of the compound whiles some parents were still seen around pleading with some of the authorities to allow the students to be in school. A parent who pleaded anonymity regretted the decision of the school saying that de-boardinising a student at this last hour will seriously affect performance in the examination.

"They have already been affected by the recent strike action of teachers and if now they are going home and will not get that opportunity to have discussions and study together we can just imagine how they are going to perform," he added.

All efforts to get the Headmistress of the school to comment on the issue proved futile as she was not on campus around 1000 hrs. however, she declined to make any comments when contacted on telephone later.