GES Reprimands Techiman SHS Teachers Over Student Assault

• The Ghana Education Service (GES) will reprimand two Techiman SHS teachers for allegedly assaulting a student.
• The teachers will be removed from their "Masters on Duty" roles and referred for guidance and counselling.
• The incident, captured in a viral video, occurred after teachers discovered students bullying and extorting peers.
• The GES Code of Conduct prohibits corporal punishment and any actions inflicting pain on students.
• The teachers also face a criminal investigation by the Bono East Regional Police following their arrest.

The GES Code of Conduct strictly prohibits staff from resorting to physical punishment, asserting that "the law does not permit anything that will inflict pain on the child."

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced significant disciplinary actions against two teachers from Techiman Senior High School in Techiman following a widely circulated video depicting the alleged assault of a male student. These measures, which include a formal reprimand and their removal from positions as Masters on Duty, stem from recommendations made by a committee established by the school's management to investigate the incident. Dr. Issahaque Munwaru, the Deputy Director-General for Quality and Access at the GES, confirmed these developments during an interview on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday, November 2.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the teachers reportedly assaulted students after discovering a pattern of bullying and extortion among them. It was found that some students were using the metallic components of their belts to inflict pain on peers who failed to comply with demands for money. In addition to the disciplinary actions, the teachers will undergo guidance and counselling, a service also extended to the affected students. Furthermore, the school intends to surcharge the implicated teachers to cover the medical expenses incurred for the children's treatment.

Dr. Munwaru emphasized that despite the context of student misconduct, the teachers' actions were entirely unwarranted, asserting that the GES Code of Conduct strictly prohibits staff from resorting to physical punishment. He underscored that "the law does not permit anything that will inflict pain on the child," highlighting the service's zero-tolerance stance on such behavior. The incident has been formally classified as professional misconduct, specifically falling under Part Three, Section Eight, Subsection A of the Ghana Education Service Code of Conduct.

This comprehensive code explicitly forbids teachers from administering corporal punishment, forcing students into painful body postures, issuing threats of harm, or engaging in any form of assault. The GES consistently reinforces these guidelines through various initiatives, including orientation programs for new educators, professional learning communities, and ongoing professional development sessions. This proactive approach aims to ensure all teaching staff are fully aware of their responsibilities and the boundaries of acceptable disciplinary practices within Ghana's schools.

The disciplinary actions against the Techiman SHS teachers serve as a clear warning regarding the severe repercussions of violating the GES Code of Conduct. Dr. Munwaru indicated that any future misconduct of a similar nature would lead to even more stringent and punitive measures. This commitment to upholding professional standards extends beyond internal administrative processes, as the GES is actively collaborating with security agencies investigating the matter.

Following their arrest by the Bono East Regional Police, the teachers are now subject to a criminal investigation. The GES has pledged its full cooperation, promising to provide all necessary information to assist the police in their inquiries, while simultaneously continuing its own internal disciplinary proceedings. This dual approach underscores the gravity with which both educational authorities and law enforcement are treating incidents of alleged assault and the importance of compliance with regulations to safeguard students in Ghana's educational institutions.

Lawyers advising educational institutions or individual teachers in Ghana must note the strict enforcement of the GES Code of Conduct against corporal punishment, leading to severe disciplinary actions like reprimand, removal from duty, and financial surcharges, alongside potential criminal investigations. This case underscores the importance of compliance with professional conduct regulations to avoid both administrative and legal repercussions.

Source: Original reporting via Albert Kuzor