Wa Secondary School closed down indefinitely

Wa (Upper West - - Mr Jacob Bagonluuri, Upper West Regional Director of Education in consultation with the board of governors and executive members of Wa Secondary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), has closed down the school indefinitely. The closure followed the refusal of the teaching staff of the school to teach, citing insecurity as a major factor.

Briefing newsmen at Wa on Tuesday, Mr Bagonluuri said the staff claimed that similar skirmishes began slowly in the early eighties in the school and ended up with a member of staff losing his life and until an amicable settlement was instituted they would continue to withdraw their services.

He said a committee has however, been set up to delve deep into the case to enable the school re-open in the shortest possible time. On March 11, last week, the police went to the school to arrest three boys Amin Salifu, Ibrahim Seidu and Hakeem Umar leaders of a rioting syndicate for allegedly burning down a tutor's bungalow, including all his personal belongings.

In the process of arresting the three leaders, a group of Muslim students believed to be part of the syndicate went out on rampage vandalising school property amidst shouts of "Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar" (God is Great).

The police at the end of the day arrested about 14 of them and placed them in cells, which incensed about 300 others to boycott classes and leave the school in solidarity with their colleagues.

The staff, in collaboration with the board of governors asked them to report by Saturday or consider themselves sacked. They obliged and reported, accompanied by their leaders. The return of the leaders of the students without any punishment, the Director said, forced the teachers to boycott classes, saying they could not ensure their safety in the school.

Mr Bagonluuri said the last straw that broke the camel's back was molestation being meted out to Muslim students by their colleague Muslim students saying "they refused to join them in their jihad and fight for freedom."

He said in the interest of the staff, students, parents and board of governors of the school it was convenient to close down the school to find amicable solutions to the problem.

Meanwhile the Wa District branch of the school’s old students' association has condemned the recent unrest, which destabilised academic work at the school. In a statement issued at Wa on Monday and signed by its secretary, Mr. Adam Abdul-Fataw, the association described the violent disturbances of March 12, as gross display of indiscipline by the students concerned.