Indiscipline affecting academic performance in Wa Senior High

Various forms of indiscipline on the part of students of the Wa Senior High Technical School (SHTS) is affecting general academic performance in the school.

Most striking among such acts of indiscipline include students reporting late when school re-opens, students’ refusal to attend classes, students’ refusal to write terminal and mock exams, as well as the habitual scaling of the school’s fence wall to dodge into town.

Mr. Gaeten Bayel, Headmaster of the school made these known at the general meeting of the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) of the School on Sunday in Wa.

He said he was shocked to learn that the scaling of the wall was not just a matter for the boys alone but that some of the girls were also involved in the practice.

“In the night, people come to stand with motor bikes, call the girls and wait for them to scale up the wall for them to carry them away into town”, he noted.

“Stealing is on the ascendancy; from the breakage of student boxes to the removal of bulbs, ceiling fans, louver blades among others.” he lamented.

The Headmaster placed part of the blame at the door step of parents and urged them to give their children the necessary spiritual and moral upbringing so that they would become disciplined when they grow up.

Another important challenge the Headmaster pointed out was inadequate accommodation for boys, a situation which compelled the authorities to convert a six-unit classroom block into a dormitory for the boys, giving rise to another problem of inadequate classrooms.

He hinted that accommodation for teachers had been converted into an ICT Laboratory compelling some of the teachers to leave campus immediately their lessons were completed, hence the inability of the few masters staying on campus to effectively monitor the behaviour of students on campus.

Mr. Bayel however commended the government through the GETFund, the PTA and all other Stakeholders in education for the support they gave to school.

“We are however not out of the woods yet and would continue to appeal for a dormitory block for the boys, classrooms, staff quarters, and workshops, payment of school fees and maintenance of the school truck among others”, he appealed.

The Headmaster urged parents to have time for the welfare of their wards by providing them their basic needs, visiting them in school and paying their fees promptly.