Child Rights International has called for the reinstatement of all the students of Adisadel College who have been suspended due to the viral video that showed how a student was bullied and injured.
The said video showed how two students at the boys’ dormitory were involved in an altercation, which led to one hitting the other’s face against a metal bed.
Following the incident, management of the school handed out suspensions to the two students who were involved in the case, as well as the other students who were present when the issue happened.
However, Child Rights International has said the decision to suspend the students was not properly taken and that the right processes should be followed to address the matter.
“The alleged act committed is criminal in nature and the institution must address the criminality of it based on a proper investigation to obtain a social enquiry report that will determine the kind of systems and the punishment regime to be offered to the parties involved. The parties may include the victim, the perpetrator, and non-participating students who encouraged the act and those who have been entrusted with a standard of care.”
It stressed that if the presence of the students in the school does not pose any threat to others, then the Ghana Education Service (GES) should ensure that the suspended students are asked to return to school.
“Despite the undeniable role the Ghana Education Service (GES) plays in this case, it is our view that the decision to dismiss the students is not informed by appropriate investigative channels and a social enquiry report. Therefore, GES must rescind their decision and reinstate the students in the school unless their presence poses extreme threat to other students and such removal must be in accordance with Section 2 (1), (2), 8 (1).& 18 (1), (m) & (n) of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560). Any decision taken in this process must always have the best interest of the CHILD.”
