The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has reassured parents and guardians that the safety, welfare, and protection of students remain a top priority for the government following allegations of sexual abuse involving 19 students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Education Minister stressed that the allegations would be treated seriously and would not be covered up. He said the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) would take the necessary administrative and legal steps to ensure accountability and justice.
The minister also confirmed that Obuasi Senior High Technical School had fully reopened, allowing both continuing and newly admitted students to return to school and resume their academic activities.
Education Ministry Introduces Measures to Protect Students
As part of efforts to strengthen student safety in Ghanaian schools, Haruna Iddrisu has directed the Ghana Education Service to end the practice of assigning students domestic duties in the homes of headteachers and other teachers.
The directive is intended to reinforce appropriate professional boundaries between school staff and students while promoting a safer learning environment.
The Education Ministry is also planning to introduce confidential reporting channels to enable students to report abuse, harassment, and other safeguarding concerns without fear of intimidation or victimisation.
In addition, the government is exploring the establishment of a dedicated student protection hotline in collaboration with telecommunications company MTN. The proposed initiative is expected to provide learners with a confidential channel to report incidents and seek assistance.
Support for Students Affected by Abuse Allegations
The Education Minister further highlighted plans to provide trauma-informed support for students affected by the allegations at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
The proposed support measures are aimed at addressing the emotional and psychological needs of affected learners while strengthening existing safeguarding policies and reporting procedures across schools.
The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service are expected to intensify efforts to improve child protection, promote student welfare, and ensure that allegations of abuse are handled through the appropriate administrative and legal processes.
Parents Urged to Support School Safety Measures
Haruna Iddrisu has called on parents, guardians, teachers, and the general public to support initiatives aimed at protecting students and preventing similar incidents in educational institutions.
He emphasised the importance of cooperation among families, school authorities, and education officials in creating safe learning environments where students can pursue their education without fear of abuse or exploitation.
The government’s latest measures place renewed emphasis on student protection, accountability, confidential reporting, and improved safeguarding systems in Ghana’s education sector.
The developments follow allegations involving students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School and form part of broader efforts to strengthen child safety and restore public confidence in the country’s educational institutions.
Source: newsthemegh.com