"Suspension of pupil appropriate"

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has stated that the decision by the authorities of the Achimota Preparatory School, Accra, to suspend a 13-year old JSS student, who allegedly had a relationship with a teacher of the school is appropriate and in line with the service's regulations.

The teacher, Jeffrey Kwame Kumah, allegedly had a sexual relationship with the student and when this was brought to the notice of the school authorities, Kumah was given the sack and the student suspended for the rest of the academic year.

The Acting Director-General of the service, Mr Alex Tettey- Enyo, said in an interview in Accra on Wednesday that the suspension was not a punitive action by the school authorities, but rather a "temporary withdrawal" to enable the girl to recover from the trauma she has been through.

He explained that in the circumstances, the girl cannot enjoy the comfort of the school environment, "because she now has a stigma and a serious psychological problem which requires proper counseling before her re-integration into school".

Mr Tettey-Enyo further explained that although the Achimota Preparatory School does not fall under the public schools system of the GES, it is under the supervision of the service. He said the school authorities have taken the right steps by sacking the teacher and also withdrawing the girl for the time being for purposes of counseling.

Kumah, 31, an English teacher of the school, was dismissed on June 28, because of the alleged relationship with the girl.