Students of Zamse Senior Tech sent home for rioting
Students of the Zamse Senior and Technical High School (ZAMSTEC) in Bolgatanga, have been sent home for rioting and vandalising school property.
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The school was temporarily closed down following a collective decision by the school authority in consultation with the leadership of the Upper East Regional Directorate of Education.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Headmaster of ZAMSTEC, Mr Francis Banbogo, said a decision was taken by the school’s authority enjoining all students to retire to bed after normal prep hours in the night so as to get re-energised for the next day.
He said final-year students of the school opposed the decision, insisting it was their right to study overnight after preps.
Reaction
Based on their reaction, he said, management of the school advised them to petition the headmaster indicating their reasons for wanting to study overnight for consideration.
Mr Banbogo said after advising the students, he proceeded to his residence only for the students to go on the rampage destroying school property running into thousands of Ghana cedis.
"They caused a total blackout in the school and further besieged the staff common room destroying anything they could lay their hands on".
He said the irate students also hurled stones at some teachers and broke into the school’s computer laboratory and ransacked computer devices, including mini laptops.
Magnitude of destruction
The headmaster said the windscreen of a mini bus belonging to the school was not spared, indicating that the magnitude of destruction caused by the students compelled the Regional Director of Education, Madam Janet Kawia, who was at the school to assess the situation, to call for the indefinite closure of the school.
He said a committee had been constituted to investigate the disturbance and come out with their findings and recommendations.
Meanwhile, 27 students, including two females, who were arrested by the police in connection with the disturbance, had been granted bail pending investigations.
As an interim measure, police personnel have been stationed at the school to ensure adequate security and also avert further attacks.