The 14-year-old student who was dismissed from school after becoming pregnant as a result of defilement is back to school following a directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The GES cited its policy guidelines that prohibit the dismissal of pregnant students.
Authorities at the Southlane Lake School located at Kasoa-Hideout in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region dismissed the child, a JHS three student more than two months ago, denying her the right to classroom activities as the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) draws near.
The swift response of the GES came after a publication by the Ghanaian Times that brought the matter to their attention.
The student who was reinstated yesterday would now be able to continue her education without interruption.
A letter of apology addressed to the child, and signed by the headmaster of the school, Bortei Shadrach Borketey, and cited by the Ghanaian Times said, “We sincerely apologise for any distress or inconvenience to the family. Our school is committed to upholding the rights and dignity of all students, and we regret the oversight in this matter.”
Confirming this development to the Ghanaian Times in an interview yesterday, the GES Girl Education Coordinator for the Ga South Municipality, Ms Florence Boasiako-Antwi, stated that the dismissal of the child by the school authorities was a move in the wrong direction, and warned that such acts should not be repeated.
During a visit by the reporter to the residence of the child, her grandmother expressed appreciation for the swift intervention by the GES in resolving the matter.
She said, “This whole problem has traumatised us greatly. My granddaughter has been home for more than two months now. We have suffered a lot of humiliation from the proprietress of the school, Kate Otchere, who has always rejected my plea to allow the child continue with her education just for the few months left for the BECE to begin. She even stopped answering my calls at some point.”
She indicated she had been advised to report the defilement issue to the social welfare department within the municipality for the right actions to be taken against the man who allegedly defiled the child.
“I am now at peace, seeing my granddaughter in her school uniform this morning. Though I am not happy about the pregnancy, I am glad there is now some hope that her dreams of becoming a nurse or journalist in future will not be shattered because of the acts of an irresponsible man who should have known better than having sex with a child,” she added.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
