SANDEMA SEC-TECH STUDENTS SUSPENDED (SPREAD, JULY 5, 2010)

THIRD year students of the Sandema Senior High Technical School in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region have been suspended for rioting on the school campus.
Authorities of the school in consultation with the district directorate of education and the district assembly suspended the students following a students’ riot that led to the destruction of school property, including louver blades and plastic chairs.
Witnesses said during Prep at about 7 p.m. on Monday, June 28, 2010, some third year students went on a rampage, put off lights in the classrooms and stormed the library, ostensibly to peel off the notice indicating their performance in the terminal examinations.
The students who were also alleged to have been dissatisfied with the pasting of the results on the notice board, vented their anger on their juniors who apparently were ridiculing them (seniors) over their poor academic performance.
In the process, three students were seriously injured and taken to the Sandema Hospital where they were treated and discharged.
Not satisfied with their action, the rampaging students went to the bungalow of one of the teachers and destroyed property, including plastic chairs and louver blades.
The timely intervention of police personnel averted further destruction of property.
Meanwhile, following the disturbances, school authorities after consultation with the district education directorate and the district assembly have asked the third year students to go home while a committee is to be set up to investigate the incident.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr John Ababa, who confirmed the incident said the students could have gone through the right channel to have their grievances redressed rather than destroying school property.
He explained that the pasting of the results on the notice board had been a regular feature and none of the students had complained to the school authorities.
He wondered why the students would go to the extent of hitting other students and attack a master’s bungalow to destroy property for that reason.
He expressed the hope that the committee would do a thorough job and sanction those found culpable.