DCE condemns brutalities against teachers

Nkawie (Ash), Aug 12, GNA - Mr Thomas Ofori-Donkor, Atwima-Nwabiagya District Chief Executive (DCE), has expressed concern about the increasing rate of brutalities and hostile attitude of some communities towards teachers in the District. The practice, he said, was not only an indictment on the image and reputation of the district but also undermined the delivery of quality education.

Mr Ofori-Donkor was speaking after Nana Adu Kofi, Wireduhene of Atwima-Mim and Nana Baffour Awuah, Abuasuapanin of Atwima Mim-Achiase, had rendered apology to the District Assembly and the District Education Directorate for a recent assault on teachers of Atwima-Mim Junior Secondary School (JSS) by some youth in the community. The teachers were alleged to have inflicted corporal punishment on some recalcitrant pupils for examination malpractices. The DCE pointed out that the Assembly invested the greater percentage of its budget on education and said any action, which undermined education had to be seen as sabotage to the district's socio-economic development.

Mr Ofori-Donkor warned that the Assembly would not stand aloof for the communities to continue to be hostile to teachers and said severe sanctions would be meted out to any perpetrators in future. Mrs Dinah Appiah, the District Director of Education, accused one Madam Akua Aso of Atwima-Mim for leading her two sons and other youth to attack the teachers and described the action as "bad and uncalled for". She, however, advised the teachers to desist from acts that could create bad relationship between them and the community. It would be recalled that on July 24 this year, Madam Aso and her two sons, Isaac Gyamfi and Bright Kwadwo Owusu, brutally assaulted and inflicted severe injuries on some of the teachers of the school for allegedly punishing their wards for indiscipline. The teachers reported the case to the Abuakwa Police but before the perpetrators absconded before they could be apprehended. Nana Baffour Awuah intervened and brought the perpetrators before the DCE for an amicable settlement.