GES backs dismissal of pregnant girls from school

The Ghana Education Service has backed the decision by authorities of Aduman Senior High School in the Afigya-Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region to sack 17 female students from the school for getting themselves pregnant.

Deputy Director of Education, Stephen Adu said on Adom FM that the decision to send the girls home, is in the right direction.

Human rights campaigners have criticized the authorities for taking the decision, describing it as harsh.

Nana Oye Lithur of the Human Rights Advocacy Centre condemned the action of the headmaster and urged the school authorities to take a second look at maintaining discipline in the school instead of rushing to take punitive actions.

Oye Lithur said the pregnancy should not prevent students from going for lectures.

Member of Parliament for New Juabeng South, Bernice Beatrice Boateng, has however linked the incident to rising immoral acts in schools and advised the authorities to invite the men responsible for the pregnancy for counseling.

But the Deputy GES boss told Adakabre Frimpong Manso, host of Dwaso Nsem on Tuesday that the decision to send the pregnant girls home is in the interest of the girls and for the safety of the babies.

Mr. Adu stated that the students can go back to the school to further their studies after delivery.