The academic future of final-year and second-year students of Obuasi Senior High and Technical School (SHTS) remains uncertain, as the school has been closed to continuing students for nearly three months following a student riot in August.
The school was shut down on August 5 after the municipal assembly ordered its closure following a disturbance during which students reportedly attacked the headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, amid allegations of sexual abuse involving female students.
Despite the commencement of the new academic year for senior high schools, academic activities for continuing students at Obuasi SHTS have yet to resume.
Checks by JoyNews in the gold-mining town revealed that some affected students were assisting with domestic chores, while others had turned to trading activities or were spending time on the streets, with no clear indication of when they would return to the classroom.
Concern over lost instructional time
President of the Concerned Citizens of Adansi, Anthony Coffie, has expressed concern about the prolonged closure, calling on the relevant authorities to take urgent steps to facilitate the school’s reopening.
He said the situation was particularly worrying for final-year students, who should be preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“The situation is particularly alarming for Form Three students, who should be preparing intensively for their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The loss of valuable instructional time threatens their examination preparation and academic prospects,” he said.
Mr Coffie argued that students should not be made to suffer the consequences of what he described as an administrative crisis, insisting that their education must remain a priority.
“Our children must not become collateral victims of an administrative crisis. Their right to education and their prospects for academic success must not be sacrificed while the relevant authorities deliberate over the issues surrounding the school,” he stated.
Appeal to traditional and government authorities
The Concerned Citizens of Adansi is appealing to the Adansihene to engage the government, the Minister for Education and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to help secure the school’s reopening.
Mr Coffie is urging the relevant authorities to implement immediate and practical measures to restore academic activities while ensuring the safety of students and staff.
The closure follows a controversy involving allegations of sexual abuse against the headmaster concerning female students. The allegations remain subject to investigation and should not be treated as established findings.
The prolonged shutdown has heightened concerns about the loss of instructional time and its potential impact on students’ academic progress, particularly final-year students preparing for their WASSCE.
With no clear timeline for the resumption of classes, concerns continue to mount over the academic consequences of the closure for the affected students.
