By Kafui Dey
Boarding schools, traditionally seen as safe havens for education and growth, are now under intense scrutiny due to recent student fatalities. The #GTVBreakfast show hosted by Thelma Tackie brought this critical issue into the spotlight, featuring interviews with Bright Appiah, Executive Director of Child Rights International, and Divine Kpe, Senior Programme Officer at Africa Edu Watch. Their revelations and insights paint a troubling picture of safety and accountability in Ghana’s boarding schools.
A Call for Accountability
“In all cases, school authorities deny responsibility for the deaths of children placed in their care,” declared Divine Kpe, his words resonating with a harsh truth about the current state of boarding schools. This statement underlines a significant issue of accountability, suggesting that those entrusted with the care of students may be falling short in their responsibilities.
Kpe called for the Ghana Police Service to make public the results of their investigations into these deaths. He also urged the Education Ministry to establish clear guidelines on managing health emergencies in senior high schools. Highlighting the lack of essential medical resources, Kpe stressed the importance of having standby vehicles for transporting ill students to medical facilities and well-equipped infirmaries with ambulances.
The Alarming Statistics
Bright Appiah supported these concerns with unsettling statistics. “From 2021 to date, we have recorded 11 deaths in our secondary schools, with nine of these deaths resulting from medical negligence,” he revealed. The shortage of medical professionals in boarding schools, he noted, is so severe that “most sick bays and infirmaries are being managed by fellow students..
Appiah shared a particularly tragic incident where a child died because school authorities, thinking she didn’t look sick enough, failed to send her to the hospital. “For a child to go to school and not come back again is something that should not happen,” he emphasised.
He criticised the lack of clear policies from the Ghana Education Service (GES) on student health management and urged schools to prioritise the welfare of their students over institutional reputation. “Policies should be geared towards the welfare of children and not just to protect the school’s image,” he asserted.
Personal Stories and Human Impact
Appiah’s organisation, Child Rights International, has dealt with numerous personal stories that underscore the human impact of these systemic issues. These narratives highlight the deep emotional and physical scars left on families and communities when students die due to preventable causes. The sense of loss and injustice is palpable, driving the urgent call for reforms.
Recommendations for Improvement
Both experts put forward several recommendations to improve safety in boarding schools:
* Increase Medical Staff: Boosting the number of clinical psychologists and medical doctors in boarding schools.
* Qualified Management of Sick Bays: Ensuring that sick bays and infirmaries are managed by qualified personnel rather than fellow students.
* Clear Health Policies: Establishing clear health management policies and protocols.
* Parental Involvement: Encouraging parents to take an active role in monitoring and advocating for their children’s well-being.
* Transparency and Accountability: Holding school authorities accountable for the safety and health of their students.
A Call to Action
The revelations from the #GTVBreakfast interview underscore an urgent need for systemic reforms. The Ghana Education Service, school administrators, and policymakers must take immediate steps to address these issues and ensure that student welfare is prioritised.
Parents, too, play a crucial role. By staying informed and involved, they can help push for the necessary changes to make boarding schools safe environments for all students.
For more updates and ongoing coverage on this critical issue, visit gbcghanaonline.com.
