Students
of the Bechem technical school for the Deaf have embarked on a peaceful
demonstration in Bechem to voice out their grievances.
The
students in the demonstration
Parading through the principal streets of
Bechem amid the beating of drums and carrying of placards, some of which read;
“Headmistress deceived S.R.C. with students”, “ I and we are all student very
annoyed with the headmistress”, “ she is crazy”, “ her is not show lovely
students and anything”, “discipline….. school for the Deaf we are against with
the headmistress”. The
Some of the
placard bearing students
students,
under police protection, marched to the office of the District Directorate of
Education and later to the premises of the Tano South District Assembly, where
their leaders briefed the Tano South District Chief Executive, Hon. Bukari
Zakari Anaba on their grievances.
The
students called for the removal of their headmistress since she has not been
helping them in any way.
Some of the
students showing concerns in sign language
They
said the headmistress has not been helping them, citing her failure in
assisting the S.R.C. of the school to attend meetings and also their
dormitories being overcrowded, they complained of the schools toilet facility
getting full for a long time without any dislodging.
Female
students of the school complained of lack of sewing machines since the only ten
(10) machines they have had broken down, medical care for students, they
complained was lacking and meals at the school was one sided since they have
for long been eating only rice.
The students complained
that they had some aid from USA but have since not seen what that aid was used
for and complained that they were given some RLG computers when they went to
Sunyani
but have since not set eye on the computers and complained bitterly that some
of their masters do not understand their sign language.
The
students who though did not put their grievances into writing but it in sign
languages and was translated by a staff of the Assembly, Mr. Offei Obed
Agyemang, said all that they need was the removal of the headmistress of the
school for a male counterpart to be brought in to replace her.
Addressing the students, the Tano South
District Chief executive, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba, thanked the students for
bringing their grievances to the notice of the authorities for redress but
reminded them that there is an act which takes care of such events which is the
Public Order Act, which stipulates the requirements for carrying out
demonstrations. He reminded them of the notification of the police on the
event, date, time, route and the response from the police.
Picture left
shows Hon. Anaba addressing the students whiles Mr. Offei translates in sign
language
Hon.
Anaba said that their demonstration had taking the police and the authorities
by surprise since the police were called in to protect them when reports got to
the police but notwithstanding their grievances would be taken care of and the
necessary actions taken on them.
Hon.
Anaba said he would consult the District Director of Education and all stakeholders
in this matter for a solution to be found on the matter, he assured the
students that the matter would not be left to lie but the necessary remedy
found to it.
Hon.
Anaba said he cannot immediately call for the removal of the headmistress as
they are demanding since she has her rights as they also have and entreated
them to exercise patience and give them time for the matter to be looked into.
The
D.C.E. pleaded with the students to go peacefully to their campus with the
promise that officials of the Assembly and the District Directorate of
Education would visit them but cautioned that if there is any Master or Teacher
who is behind the students action calling for the removal of the headmistress,
that master or teacher should count himself or herself out that he or she would
be going with the headmistress, should the need arise.
The
D.C.E. later promised the students of the Assembly’s readiness to donate five
(5) sewing machines to the school.
