Takoradi, April 14, GNA - Students of the Ghana Secondary Technical School in Takoradi on Thursday went on a four-hour demonstration at the school to protest against what they termed "intimidation, mal-administration and misuse of school funds" by the school's authorities.

Their leaders, who asked not to be identified, said even though funds were mobilised more than a year ago through fund raising activities and donations from old students and individuals for the provision and rehabilitation of some of the facilities the problems still exist. ''The school library has become useless because books in stock are very old and not relevant to courses being offered.''

They said students are prevented from using computers in the school and are usually asked to pay for fuel before they use the school bus even though they pay 100,000 cedis each term as vehicle maintenance fee. The students said the quality and quantity of food served them is very poor and also spoke about unhygienic conditions at the dining hall. ''Some of the dormitories leak while others have no mosquito netting. In 2003, the 1979 Year Group donated some money for the repair of certain facilities but this has not been done.''

Another source of worry to the students is computer errors in the recording of the payment of school fees that resulted in many students sent home until the error was detected.

They said the Students Representative Council of the school had become dormant because of lack of cooperation from the Headmaster, Mr Thomas Mensah.

They said several efforts to seek audience with the headmaster to help to address their concerns proved futile.

The students presented a petition to a representative of Nana Osei Nketsia, acting Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Director of Education. When contacted on telephone, Mr. Mensah declined to talk to the journalists.