Akro sectech: Headmaster Denies Knowledge of Sexual Harassment of Female Students

Headmaster of the Akro Senior High School in the Lower Manya Krobo municipal of the eastern region, Mr. Lawrence Akpatsu has denied knowledge whatsoever about allegations of sexual harassment claimed by some students of the school against some male teachers.

This follows a letter purportedly issued by the Students’ Representative Council of the school calling on the school authorities and various stakeholders in the educational sector to intervene and call the offending teachers to order.

The headmaster who spoke with Rite news in an interview said the issue had been brought to his attention from his superiors in Koforidua and the management of the school was yet to meet to discuss the matter.

Mr. Akpatsu who has occupied the position as headmaster for the past six months however admitted that such rumours of illicit sexual relationships between some male teachers and female students had been rife ever since he took up the position.

“I have been in this position for only six months but I have heard rumors about such sexual incidents between teachers and students,” he disclosed.

The headmaster added that though he has always prompted female students to provide evidence of such evidences, they failed to do so.

“I have always encouraged students to bring out evidence of such rumors but has not received anything of the sort yet,” he told Rite news.

“The rumors keep coming but without evidence. When I meet students, I ask them to come with evidence but they don’t come. So without evidence, it is very difficult for me to start from somewhere,” he underscored.

“If a student accuses a teacher and she is able to mention the teacher’s name, that is where I can be able to set up a committee to investigate such an issue, but if they make a general allegation, no evidence, then it would be very difficult,” he reiterated.

Students of AKro Senior High Technical School in Odumase Krobo of the Eastern Region are calling for the dismissal of some of their teachers over what they describe as sexual harassment.

In a letter sighted by Rite news, the Students Representative Council listed many other disturbing happenings in the school that are affecting the academic standards.

“Some of the teachers engage in sexual relationships with the students and when students fail to accept their proposal, they (teachers) always find fault with them and find cause to punish them in class,” the SRC statement addressed to the school authorities said.

It added “The students find it difficult to concentrate when these teachers come to class. For this fact that teachers are engaging in sexual relationship with students, these teachers hate to see the female students mingling with male students even at ordinary hours of the day. We are therefore confused as to whether we are in a mixed school or single sex school.

“We the student body recommend that these teachers be sacked from the school so the students can have the peace of mind to study. We hope our grievances will be listened to”.

Source: ritefmonline.org