MIXED REACTIONS FROM TAMALE (Page 11)

Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale

THERE are mixed reactions among teachers, pupils and students regarding the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008) tournament in the Tamale metropolis.
While there is general euphoria among majority of the teachers and pupils, a significant number of teachers wished their respective schools had not re-opened. According to them, if schools had been on vacation, it would have ensured proper monitoring of the activities of pupils by their parents during the tournament.
The Tamale Metropolitan Directorate of Education on Wednesday postponed the re-opening date for first and second- cycle schools from January 16, 2008 to February 4, 2008. However, final-year JHS and SHS students are to report to school.
Some teachers told the Daily Graphic that “we are eager to watch and witness this memorable event and we wish school had not re-opened to enable us to get more time for the event”.
Others expressed regret that some “stubborn pupils and student may go wayward because some of them will deceive their parents that they are going to school but they may not report at school but roam the streets and even fall victim to all kinds of immoral acts”.
The Headmistress of the Tishegu Anglican Primary/JHS, Madam Hazara Mahama, therefore, entreated parents to join hands with school authorities, while the tournament was on, to effectively supervise and monitor the activities of their children.
Another teacher of the school indicated that “although we teachers are happy about this tournament, we are at the same time apprehensive of the fact that some of our children might be tempted by some visitors of suspicious character to engage in immoral acts like homosexuality, for instance”.
The sports teacher of the school, Mr Edward Bagonluri, for his part, stated that “publicity on the tournament is all right but in schools such as ours, where we run shift, the matches will disrupt the attention of those children who must have lessons while their colleagues watch the matches”.
Other teachers in the metropolis simply said “schools should have been on vacation, especially in a host city such as Tamale. However, we pray to God to make our children safe during and after the tournament”.
The Northern Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Joseph Abu, observed that since a good number of the matches would be played in the evenings, it would not affect the work of teachers.
He, however, cautioned girls in the JHS to avoid dressing provocatively in order not to attract unnecessary attention from men, thereby promoting promiscuity.
“In fact, we have been telling the teachers to keep their eyes on the girls to prevent them from falling prey to sexual misconduct under the influence of alcohol or to be lured by money,” the GNAT secretary pointed out.
According to him, the fact that schools had re-opened was for the good of both teachers and students, particularly final-year JHS pupils.
For some students and pupils, the re-opening of schools does not go down well with some of them. However, final-year JHS students were happy that schools had re-opened.
A final-year JHS student of the Tishegu Anglican school, Mohammed Manan, said, “I want to go to school rather than spend time watching football matches. My exams are just around the corner so my focus is on passing the exams.”
When this reporter visited the Tamale Polytechnic, he was told that the students were on vacation.
A teaching assistant at the polytechnic stated that “for us teachers, we do not have a problem because most of us have covered enough of the syllabus”.
He further stated that there were mixed reactions among students regarding vacation and the tournament.
According to him, while some students wished the polytechnic had not vacated, others held a different opinion.
“Those not in favour of the vacation say their academic calendar will be distorted,” the teaching assistant pointed out.
Students of the University for Development Studies (UDS) are also on vacation but the euphoria among both lecturers and students is high.