Dr. Collins Kankam Kwarteng, a lecturer at Kumasi Technical University, has urged authorities to replace the traditional “watchman system” with professional security units in Senior High schools.
Speaking on OTEC FM’s “Nyansapo,”monitored by Kumasimail, Dr. Kankam emphasized the need for a structured security approach similar to those in tertiary institutions, where uniformed units are often led by retired military or police personnel.
He said “We should stop the watchman system in our schools. If you come to a tertiary institution, security is a whole unit. They wear uniforms; normally, the person heading that unit is either a retired military officer or a retired police officer, who are the ones being recruited in our universities as security guards”.
He highlighted the inefficiency of relying on a single watchman, especially in isolated schools lacking proper fencing.
“So, the watchman system in our secondary schools, which guards students aged 14, 15, and 16, needs to be stopped. If we do not replace this system with a security unit under the Ghana Education Service (GES) or another appropriate authority, we risk leaving these students vulnerable.
He added “Some of the schools are located in remote areas with no fencing, and their only source of protection is the watchman system.”
Dr. Kankam pointed to the security units in universities as a model worth emulating. He however suggested that Implementing a shift-based security system would not only improve student safety but also have a positive impact on employment.
He stressed “It also becomes a platform for employment. For example, if a school like OWASS were to hire 10 security personnel for each shift, it would result in 30 new jobs per school. How many secondary schools do we have in Ghana? This means you would have created thousands of jobs.”
Dr. Collins Kankam emphasized that the incident at Adventist Senior High School serves as a wake-up call for all of us to employ professional security personnel in our various senior high schools.
This initiative, he believes, would not only enhance safety but also create job opportunities for many people.”
Background To Adventist Senior High Incident:
Two students at the Seventh Day Adventist Senior High School on Friday April 4, suffered gunshot wounds inflicted by their classmate.
Reports from the school indicate that Bernard Amoabeng, the suspect, brought the gun to school for yet to be established reasons.
An argument among some students over whether the gun was real, ensued.
In a bid to prove that it is a real gun, Amoabeng is alleged to have fired the weapon, leading to the injuries recorded.
One of the students, a girl, who sustained wounds on the forehead is currently receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital.
The suspect is currently in custody at the Suame Police Station.
Source: www.kumasimail.com / Kwadwo Owusu
