Students engaged in Demonstration to be sacked

Bolgatanga, Sept 1, GNA - The Upper East Deputy Minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, has said henceforth students who engage in demonstrations in the Region would be sacked.

The Minister said this when she interacted with students at vacation classes organized by the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocates (NOPRA) on Tuesday.

NORPRA is a non-governmental organization working in the interest of the marginalized and organises holiday classes for students in Junior High and Senior High schools in the Region eve

This time 103 Junior High School students and 257 Senior High School students are attending the classes.

She said the region, which is so deprived, would no longer countenance student demonstrations which often led to the destruction of school infrastructure.

The Minister expressed concern about recent demonstrations in some senior high schools in the Region and said about four senior high schools in the Region had demonstrated, destroying school property.

She advised the students to use schools' approved procedure in addressing their grievances instead of resorting to demonstrations.

Mrs Awuni commended NORPRA for organizing the holiday classes and said it would help improve the fallen standard of education in the Region and also help curb the migration of school children to the south during holidays.

She said the government was providing school infrastructure for all Senior High Schools in the Region to absorb new entrants into the schools next academic year.

It is also putting up infrastructure in basic schools in the Region that hold classes under trees and the shift system, adding that the school feeding programme had also increased from 46 to 64 schools in the Region.

The President of NORPRA, Mr Bismark Adongo, said NORPRA regarded education as a major tool for reducing poverty which is endemic in the Region and that was why it was organizing holiday classes during every vacation.

He called on the students to start demonstrating good leadership qualities by being disciplined, respectful and serious with their academic work.

Mr Adongo also entreated the students to get actively involved by making sure that they were not left out of the Population and Housing Census scheduled to take place on September 26.