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Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has called for calm over a dispute involving students with dreadlocks seeking admission to the Achimota school in Accra.
He also called on public commentators and the public to slow down the discussions to allow the Ghana Education Service (GES) leadership to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Speaking in an exclusive interview about the impasse between the students’ parents and the school authorities, the minister asked for compromises, saying the current public comment was unhealthy.
Directives
Dr. Adutwum asked the General Director of GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, to facilitate a meeting between the children’s parents and the school authorities to find a solution to the current impasse.
“I have directed the GES to present clear policy guidelines so that teachers can teach, parents can have the peace of mind of taking their children to school, and administrators have clear guidelines for managing their schools and allowing peace to prevail.” He said. saying.
Cold heads
“As Minister of Education, I don’t have a position on this, but all I’m saying is let calm prevail,” explained Dr Adutwum.
The minister expressed the hope that the meeting between the GES and the two factions will resolve the differences and allow the students to return to school.
Dr. Adutwum said he appreciated the fact that schools had rules and regulations governing them and also the concerns expressed by all stakeholders, but called for peace.
“As we speak, the General Director of GES and the Chief Director of the Ministry are having a discussion with the boy’s parents,” he told the Daily Graphic, expressing the hope that it will provide a solution in the short term.
Achimota products
The minister praised the Achimota School for offering admission to various categories of students and producing great personalities who hold high positions worldwide.
He said the school had a history of admitting children from across the country, “and I don’t want Achimota to be described as a school of exclusion.”
Background
School authorities last week admitted students who were assigned there under the Computer School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), but requested that students cut their dreadlocks as part of school rules and regulations. .
The father of one of the students, Ras Aswad Nkrabeah, rejected the school’s directives and took to social media to pressure the school to rescind his decision “because it is a serious violation of human rights. We have no choice but to fight ”.
“As a child, he has every right to his culture as long as said culture does not violate the 1992 Constitution. He also deserves the right to access education within his culture like other cultural believers.
“As a Rastafarian, I believe that dreadlocks do not cause any harm in any way, which should even be a basis for affirmation by school authorities,” he posted on his Facebook wall.
The issue drew clear lines among the general public, with some supporting Ras Nkrabeah’s position, while others backing the school authorities, insisting that the student should be forced to follow school rules.
Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has called for a cool head to prevail over the admission line involving students with dreadlocks who were admitted to the Achimota School in Accra and to allow the management of the Ghana Education Service find a lasting solution to the stand. -off.
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