Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Apaak has said the government is taking a keen interest in the alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old student with autism at the Bolgatanga Girls' Senior High School (BOGISS) in the Upper East Region.
Dr Apaak said the Ministry of Education was concerned about the manner in which the matter had been handled by the school authorities and had directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that the student received the necessary medical attention and counselling.
Ministry Unhappy with BogISS Scandal Handling
The Ministry of Education is unhappy that a matter of such gravity had become public before the relevant education authorities had adequately addressed it. Dr Apaak said the Minister was dissatisfied that the parents of the student were not taken into confidence in the handling of the matter. The parents had reportedly been dissatisfied with the manner in which the school management had dealt with the incident, including the instruction that the student should be withdrawn from the boarding school and that medical expenses, counselling, and all other expenses should be borne by the parents.
Government to Side with Parents in BogISS Scandal
Dr Apaak said the ministry's position was that the student should not be removed from the mainstream school system merely because she had special needs or had allegedly become a victim. "We are taking a keen personal interest in this, and we side with the parents," he said. If the parents decide that their ward should no longer be in the school environment, then the ministry would understand that.
Schools Must Ensure Safety
Dr Apaak emphasized the need for schools to ensure the safety of students. He said existing systems placed responsibility on school authorities to ensure that both teaching and non-teaching staff operated within established rules. "We expect that headteachers and headmistresses would have control over what goes on on their campuses, including supervising the staff, both teaching and non-teaching, and ensuring that they do the right things," he said.
The Deputy Minister said the ministry was awaiting the full report into the incident and would take further action based on the findings. The government's intervention was intended to protect the student and reassure parents about the safety of their children in schools. Dr Apaak's comments reflect the government's commitment to promoting inclusive education and ensuring that all students, including those with special needs, are able to participate in education in a general school setting.
Source: Joy Online
