The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Akamugri Donatus Atanga, has expressed deep concern over the growing spate of student riots in second-cycle institutions across the region, describing the trend as “worrying and needless.”
In a documentary engagement with Apexnewsgh’s Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen, the Minister recounted his personal experience since assuming office five months ago. He revealed that the wave of disturbances began under his tenure at St. Benedict’s Secondary School, where a stolen meal sparked clashes that later took on tribal undertones.
“Can you steal food and be fighting? Did you steal a tribe? Can you understand that?” he asked, questioning how minor disputes were being allowed to escalate into violent confrontations.
He explained that subsequent riots stemmed from issues such as stolen mobile phones, broken water systems, poor sanitation facilities, and disputes over discipline and welfare. For instance, in one case, students rioted after going days without water and being forced to fetch from nearby communities, exposing female students to safety risks.
Mr. Atanga identified indiscipline and weak enforcement of school regulations as major drivers of the unrest. He lamented that rules prohibiting items like mobile phones were often flouted with the complicity of some staff.
“Until all of us stand by the fact that these are the things we don’t want and we all abide by it, we will face these issues,” he said, urging teachers and school authorities to strictly enforce existing regulations.
He also criticized the current disciplinary regime, which he believes has emboldened students to challenge authority. “During our time, when you committed a crime, your masters were allowed to punish you, and nobody could attack them. Today, they say nobody should punish misbehaving students. The teachers are there, but the students are running down the masters,” he noted.
The Minister called for a review of disciplinary measures to restore teachers’ authority while protecting students’ rights. “Unless we get back to the drawing board and look at which offenses are punishable, we are likely to keep seeing this indiscipline,” he warned.
Beyond discipline, Mr. Atanga highlighted the role of poor infrastructure in fueling discontent, particularly the lack of toilets and water facilities. He urged district assemblies to prioritize school sanitation and water provision through the Common Fund and other initiatives.
“It is not proper for a secondary school to be there without a toilet facility, forcing students to share public toilets or practice open defecation. This exposes especially the girls to serious risks,” he stressed.
He also cautioned against conflicts among school management and staff, noting that internal divisions often influence and embolden students to riot. “Let us work as brothers and sisters. If you urge students to attack your colleague, remember others are watching, and one day, it will be you,” he advised.
The Minister further shared insights into how riot investigations should be handled, warning against hastily labeling injured or present students as culprits.
“When you see a student in blood after a riot, don’t immediately conclude he is a bad person. Sometimes those injured are the ones resisting destruction. If you punish the wrong people, you embolden the real perpetrators,” he explained.
He urged authorities to focus on identifying ringleaders and dealing with them firmly to deter repeat offenders. “Any student found to be leading riots should be dealt with radically, but we must ensure we get the right people,” he emphasized.
Mr. Atanga concluded by urging teachers, parents, assemblies, and students to work together to restore discipline, strengthen regulations, and improve infrastructure. Only through collective responsibility, he said, can the disturbing trend of school riots be curtailed.
“If students obey regulations, management cooperates, and facilities are improved, we can reduce the violence. But if we continue to pamper indiscipline, we will be training troublemakers who may carry their misconduct into other schools and communities,” the Minister cautioned.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
