Teacher demoted for absenteeism and drunkeness

Boana (B/A) May 20 GNA - The Nkoranza District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has demoted Mr Vincent Tengah, Headteacher of the Boana Local Authority Primary School for persistent absenteeism and drunkenness Mr M. K. Nsowah, District Director of Education meted out the punishment when he visited the area on Wednesday following complaints by the School's Management Committee (SMC) and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

Mr Tengah has, therefore, been relieved of his post and his assistant, Mr Stephen Apau, instructed to manage the school until a substantive Headteacher is posted to the school.

For seven months - that is between 20th October last year and May 17 this year - Mr Tengah attended school for only 19 days. Mr Nsowah observed during his visit that drunkenness might have something to do with his continuous absence from school.

Mr Nsowah addressed the community leaders and advised parents to enrol their wards in the school since the only lasting legacy they could bequeath to them was education that would enable them to function effectively in the Information Age.

They should send their daughters to school and ensure that they complete. The District Head of the Inspectorate Division, Mr E. Osei Sarfo expressed gratitude to the community for providing a hostel to accommodate teachers posted to the area. He called on parents, teachers and pupils to co-operate to raise the fallen standard of education in the area.

The District Director and his entourage encountered Mr Tengah and found him drunk after visiting a near-by school at Dromankumah, which suffered from a recent rainstorm. He was carried in the District Director's vehicle to the GES Office at Nkoranza and when he became sober, left the office unceremoniously.

The District Director disclosed that he would ensure that Mr Tengah refunded whatever he earned for the number of days he absented himself from school.