The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is calling on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reconsider the dismissal of eight students of the Chiana Senior High School.

The students–all females– were shown the exit for insulting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in November 2022.

Mr. Ablakwa who is a former Deputy Minister of Education says what the student said in the viral video is a reflection of our institutions and systems and so questions must be raised as to how to properly resolve these behaviours rather than handing destructive punishments to students.

He intimated that the dismissal of the students is too harsh for what they did and must be reconsidered to save their young selves.

“Sanctions are supposed to reform and not destroy and that is why I think the decision to dismiss them is harsh and unacceptable. Anytime we see these outcomes, it means that all of us must share the blame for such conduct because those students are only a reflection of the system. The models and examples set in schools are meant to mould these students and so if they are doing otherwise, then we must ask questions about the effectiveness of those models and examples.”

He also appealed for the students to be recalled and taken through counselling and for deliberate efforts to be made to avert such incidents.

“I will appeal that GES and the minister of education take a second look at the dismissals. I hope the president will intervene to bring them back. It is becoming one too many because there was even a time students ganged up and beat up invigilators and teachers.”