Cancel the directive at the Achimota school, allow the authorities to handle the “ dreadlock saga ”

The Old Achimotan Association (OAA) berated the Ghana Education Service (GES) for interfering in a decision by the Achimota school authorities not to admit two students with dreadlocks.

According to the Association, the law governing the management of high schools in Ghana makes it the responsibility of the school board to ensure effective and efficient governance of the school. As such, the GHG directive which contradicts these rules and regulations is in bad taste.

“We are concerned about the actions taken by the CEO (of GES) and have therefore requested that he repeal the directive and allow the board to deal with the matter,” said Association president Ernest Aryeetey. in a press release.

The school’s intervention follows media reports that the Ghana Education Service (GES) ordered the management of Achimota School to grant admission to the two boys who were rejected despite their placement by the computerized system.

The directive follows a massive debate on social media over the right to education and religion and the violation of these rights by some public schools across the country.

Many described the directive as unfair and a violation of the 1992 Constitution.

But on Saturday, the GES released the directive asking for the admission of the children.

The director general of GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa clarified that the Achimota school did not have the right to refuse the admission of a student because of a hairstyle.

“You can’t say you won’t accept someone based on the person’s religious belief and so we asked the chief to allow children to go to school,” he said. highlighted.

However, according to the Old Student Association, while the debate is healthy and necessary, it is wrong for GES to issue a directive or make a decision without consulting the school council.

“After consulting my colleagues on the Executive Committee, I wrote to the Director General of GES to express to him the concern of the OAA that his action has undermined the authority of the school’s governing board,” said underlined Mr. Aryeetey.

Background

Two students with dreadlocks were denied admission to Achimota High School on Friday.

According to sources at JoyNews, school officials say it is against school rules to admit students with dreadlocks.

“School officials at Achimota School refused admission to two brilliant dreadlocked students after they were posted there by the computerized school placement system,” a parent whose son was one of the two students said on Facebook.

The situation has since sparked heated debate on social media, with many calling on the government, especially the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education, to intervene.