I was lucky to have been enrolled in one of the best schools in our community. What made my school stand out was the commitment of our teachers to assist us in whatever way to pass our examinations, the facilities available, the atmosphere and our willingness to learn.
It was indeed a delight to watch students and teachers working so closely together when the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) was approaching. The teachers spent their precious time to prepare candidates the best way ever for the examination.
Unfortunately, things began to change in the school when the headmistress was replaced with a new one. This new headmistress, Mrs Danso, did not get on well with the teachers.
Apparently, some of the teachers were against the decision to transfer her to the school and she got wind of that information. She was, therefore, mean to the teachers.
She complained about almost everything the teachers did including their style of teaching and their way of dressing. A few months to the BECE, we realised that our teachers were not coming to class as they should and on the few occasions they came, they complained a lot about their allowances not being paid.
We, the BECE candidates, decided to inform our parents about the developments in the school. An emergency PTA was called and, because of the decision taken, our teachers started being regular in school.
Indeed, they did but because there was so much to teach, with limited time left for the exams, we were rushed through the topics. In the end, we wrote the BECE but when the results were released, not all of us passed.
Our grades were also not very good so none of us had our first choice schools. Some of us were even compelled to rewrite the examination. The attention of the District Director of Education was drawn to this and an investigative committee was set up.
In the end, Mrs Danso was found culpable and she was forced to resign.
As for us the candidates, nothing could be done about our situation. We were innocent but we had to pay the price for the constant in-fighting between our headmistress and our teachers.
Please, let us consider the consequences of our actions always so that we do not make others suffer unduely.
Indeed, this is a true case of the saying that when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.
