Tension has resurfaced at the Asanco Model Basic School in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region following a dispute over the transfer of the school’s headmaster and the assumption of duty by his successor.
The former headmaster, Isaac Enimil, popularly known as “Lion”, is alleged to have rejected his transfer and refused to hand over the administration of the school to the newly appointed headmaster, Albert Yawson, also known as “Abass”.
The disagreement reportedly intensified this week when officials from the education office visited the school to intervene, eventually leading to the police being called in to help restore calm.
Mr Yawson has reportedly reported to the school and was formally introduced as the new headmaster by the District Director of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Emefa Fiagome.
However, Mr Enimil is alleged to have continued reporting to the school and occupying the headmaster’s office despite the change in leadership.
The latest development is the latest in a series of reported disagreements at the school involving the former headmaster and some teachers.
About two years ago, several teachers at Asanco Model Basic School were transferred after being accused of insubordination.
The affected teachers subsequently petitioned the relevant authorities, prompting the then Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to intervene. Some of the transfer decisions were reportedly reversed, although some of the teachers eventually left the school.
The teachers, however, disputed the reasons given for their transfers.
They alleged that they had come under pressure because of their refusal to participate in activities they described as coordinated malpractice during the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), as well as other activities they believed were not sanctioned by the GES.
Those allegations were made by the teachers and have not been independently established.
The affected teachers also raised concerns about what they described as the former headmaster’s authoritarian approach to school administration.
They alleged that teachers who disagreed with management decisions were often treated as opponents, resulting in strained relationships and growing tension among staff.
The reported disagreements extended to the management of several school activities and programmes.
As a model basic school with a large student population, Asanco Model Basic School runs various activities intended to support teaching and learning, including extra classes, a school canteen, teachers’ welfare programmes, quizzes, debates, sports and cultural activities.
According to information gathered, some teachers disagreed with the former headmaster over the organisation and management of some of these activities.
Extra classes were reportedly a particular source of disagreement.
Some teachers allegedly declined to participate in the extra classes. The former headmaster was subsequently accused of dealing directly with parents to make arrangements for the classes where teachers were unwilling to participate.
According to accounts from some teachers, those who declined to participate in certain activities subsequently experienced difficulties in their relationship with the school’s management.
There were also reported disagreements regarding teachers’ participation in the school’s welfare arrangements.
The tensions reportedly resulted in some teachers being reported for alleged insubordination.
Information gathered indicates that eight teachers were subsequently transferred, while three others later secured releases from the school.
The prolonged disagreements reportedly began affecting the general atmosphere at the school.
According to information gathered, extracurricular activities such as quizzes, debates, sporting events and cultural competitions were affected, while divisions among staff contributed to an increasingly tense working environment.
Concerns were also reportedly raised about the school’s academic performance.
The reported challenges eventually attracted the attention of education authorities, culminating in the decision to transfer Mr Enimil from the school.
The transfer, however, has itself now become the subject of a fresh dispute.
Following the reopening of schools for the new academic term, the District Director of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Emefa Fiagome, reportedly visited Asanco Model Basic School and introduced Mr Yawson as the new headmaster.
The former headmaster is alleged to have rejected the change and declined to formally hand over the school’s administrative records to his successor.
The attendance register and school logbook are reportedly among the documents at the centre of the disagreement.
The situation allegedly resulted in some teachers recording their attendance in an exercise book instead of the official attendance register.
At the same time, some teachers considered close to Mr Enimil reportedly continued signing the original attendance register.
This created two separate systems for recording staff attendance at the school.
Mr Enimil also reportedly continued occupying the headmaster’s office whenever he visited the school.
To enable the newly appointed headmaster to work, another office was reportedly provided for Mr Yawson.
The District Director later introduced Mr Yawson to the pupils and informed them that Mr Enimil is no longer the headmaster of the school.
Despite the announcement, the former headmaster is alleged to have continued using the headmaster’s office.
The dispute escalated further during the ongoing admission of new pupils.
Both Mr Enimil and Mr Yawson were reportedly present at the school as parents brought prospective pupils for admission.
According to information gathered, Mr Enimil went to the area where the admission exercise was taking place and allegedly told parents that he do not recognise Mr Yawson as the new headmaster.
He reportedly maintained that he remains the headmaster and asked parents to deal with him concerning the admission process.
The development reportedly created confusion among parents and teachers, with competing claims over who had authority to oversee the process.
Some teachers were reportedly prepared to march to the education office to formally raise their concerns.
Mr Yawson, however, is said to have contacted the education authorities instead.
With the District Director away from the municipality at the time, education officials were dispatched to the school to intervene.
The intervention did not immediately resolve the disagreement.
According to information gathered, Mr Enimil engaged the education officials in a heated exchange as he sought to explain his position in the presence of parents.
A video capturing part of the confrontation has subsequently circulated on social media.
The footage shows a visibly tense interaction between the former headmaster and education officials as attempts were made to address the dispute.
The incident has renewed concerns among parents and other stakeholders about the effect of the leadership disagreement on the school’s operations.
The situation reportedly escalated further during the assessment of pupils seeking admission.
Education officials were reportedly using a set of sample questions to assess prospective pupils when Mr Enimil allegedly took the questions from one of the officials and tore them.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged incident remain subject to verification.
Following the confrontation, the police were called to the school.
The officers reportedly intervened to calm the situation and prevent the disagreement from developing into a more serious confrontation.
The arrival of the police marked a significant escalation of what began as an administrative disagreement over the transfer and change in leadership at the school.
The developments have raised concerns about the impact of the leadership dispute on pupils, teachers and parents.
As the school begins a new academic term, stakeholders are expected to prioritise the restoration of normal teaching and learning while the relevant education authorities address the administrative dispute.
A clear resolution regarding the leadership of the school, custody of official records and responsibility for admissions and other administrative functions is also needed to prevent further confusion.
The claims and counterclaims surrounding the dispute remain unfolding, and further intervention by the Ghana Education Service and other relevant authorities could determine the next steps.
For parents and pupils, however, the immediate concern is for calm to return to Asanco Model Basic School and for teaching and learning to proceed without further disruption.
By 1960news.com
