The Punishment meted out to the 14 SHS students by the Ghana Education Service is too harsh – Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that the sanctions meted out to the SHS students who used vulgar language against the President are harsh.

The comments of the North Tongu lawmaker comes on the back of the Press Release issued by the Ghana Education Service in which the service indicated the dismissal of some 14 students for Students who disrespected the President.

According to Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, even though he condemns the misconduct of the WASSCE candidates which were seen in viral videos on social media, the punishment meted out to them is too harsh and they should be made to sign a bond of good behaviour and be allowed to complete the final examinations.

Hon. Ablakwa also added that, the apologies rendered by the students could have been considered and subscribed to punishment that reforms and not punishment that destroys.

Below is what Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa wrote put out on his Facebook Page

To be succinct: the GES sanctions meted out to the named SHS students are harsh, high-handed, whimsical and could prove counterproductive.

I am one of many who have already condemned the misconduct of the WASSCE candidates which we saw in viral videos on social media.

However, if there must be punishment, although I take the view that their apologies could have been considered – I have always subscribed to punishment that reforms and not punishment that destroys.

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The offending students could be made to sign a bond of good behaviour, allowed to complete the final examinations after which the release of their results may be delayed until surcharging and counselling obligations have been carried out. We do not have to destroy the future of these teenagers.

While pursuing the reformative punishment I propose, it is absolutely essential that independent investigations are conducted into the circumstances that led to the rather strange expectations and conditions that have brought us to this embarrassing juncture. In other words – who told the students to expect a particular set of questions? Who assured them of weak and compromised invigilation? Why did some teachers gang up with students to attack WAEC officials? Why does it appear that students were simply not prepared for the WASSCE, what went wrong?

These are fundamental issues for which we must seek urgent answers and for which arbitrary destructive punishment does not address.