Establish standards to address Achimota School and dreadlock students issue

The Ghana CSOs Platform on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) has charged the Ministry of Education to establish clear standards to address the impasse that has happened between the Achimota Senior High School and two students in dreadlocks.

In the past week, the school stance after denying the students admission because of their dreadlocks has been rife, attracting comments and backlash from the general public.

Although the students are set to be eventually admitted, Ghana CSOs platform on SDG 4, states emphatically that the situation has not been handled appropriately by any of the parties involved.

“We note that the parties in this issue are right to some extent on their demand for a) school rules to be adhered to, b) religious, cultural or human rights to be observed, and c) not limiting access to education due to one's belief.

“However, placing the issue on the slaughter-house of public opinion by the parties, the reactive response from GES and fueled by the media is in bad taste,” part of a press release from the CSOs has said.

The group wants the Ministry of Education to mediate in the matter by convening a meeting between key stakeholders including GES, the school authority, the PTA, the parents of the boy, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the issue dispassionately and arrive at solutions that will be accepted by all.

In the foregoing when all the issues are resolved, Ghana CSOs platform on SDG 4 wants the Ministry to hold a national dialogue on school rules and regulations in today's changing environment to come up with new, progressive standards and policies for minors.

Find below the full press release from the group:

Ministry of Education must mediate in the admission brouhaha to ensure no student is left behind.

For the past week the country has been embroiled in the debate of whether the Achimota school authority and the parents of the fresh student rejected by the school and GES are right or wrong in their various decisions.

The Ghana CSOs platform on SDG 4 states emphatically that the situation has not been handled appropriately by any of the parties involved.

We note that the parties in this issue are right to some extent on their demand for a) school rules to be adhered to, b) religious, cultural or human rights to be observed and c) not limiting access to education due to one's belief. However, placing the issue on the slaughter house of public opinion by the parties, the reactive response from GES and fueled by the media is in bad taste.

Our question is what solutions has the huge public outcry inured, except for racial disaffection, division, emotional outburst, more confusion and disrespect for institutions.

The CSOs SDG 4 platform thus ask for an amicable decision to be reached on the matter as soon as possible so that the affected students can begin their academic work and for the school authority to have the peace of mind to teach and manage the 4000 students in their care.

We call on the Ministry of Education to mediate in the matter by convening a meeting between key stakeholders including GES, the school authority, the PTA, the parents of the boy and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the issue dispassionately and arrive at solutions that will be accepted by all.

When this has been resolved, the Ministry must hold a national dialogue on school rules and regulations in today's changing environment to come up with new, progressive standards and policies for our minors to whom we must protect and instill in them the highest human standards that enables them to realize their full potentials.

Issued by the Communications Directorate, SDG4

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