Tabloid News of Monday, 13 June 2005

Source: Chronicle

Angry pupils demonstrate against wee smokers

The pupils of both the Presbyterian Primary and the Municipal Assembly Primary schools at Odumase, near Sunyani, had embarked on a two-hour demonstration to register their protest against ?wee? smokers who have been using their classrooms as places of convenience. The angry pupils said they were fed up with the ?wee? smokers and called on them to put a stop to that unscrupulous behaviour.

According to the spokesperson for the pupils, who is also the class captain of primary four, Andrews Kyeremeh, the behaviour of the ?wee? smokers was causing the smooth progression of effective teaching and learning in the schools since both teachers and pupils sometimes found it difficult to be in such awful environment created by those ?wee? smokers.

He revealed that the students were gingered to take the action, after they came to see faeces on the chairs of the teachers of the KG 1 ?A? and primary two, that morning.

These he said spontaneously sparked the demonstration since the situation was becoming alarming.

Master Kyeremeh appealed to the Odumase Traditional Council to do something about the situation to help them have a congenial environment to learn, for them to achieve what they intend being.

He said, ?Those people (?wee? smokers) do not understand the purpose of education that is why they are trying to disturb the foundation of we the little ones who wish to become effective future leaders to develop this town.?

Master Kyeremeh again appealed to his peers not to follow what those aimless people are doing and abstain from harmful drugs for a better future.

In an interview with the head teacher of them Presbyterian Primary School, Aning Boamah, and the headmistress of the Municipal Assembly Primary School, Madam Regina Ayisiwaa, they both said the smokers always take over the schools after classes and use the schools as their ?wee? base.

They added that the situation has been reported to the police, who are yet to take action.

The head teachers reported that about three years ago a watchman at the Presbyterian Primary School was stabbed with a knife by one of the ?wee? smokers when he tried to prevent him (the ?wee? smoker) from using the school as a ?wee? base.

They have therefore appealed to the police and the Odumase Traditional Council to help bring the situation under control.