Tensions flared at a senior high school after a routine inspection of students’ belongings led to the seizure of dozens of mobile phones and other unauthorised items, sparking a violent reaction that caused extensive damage to school property.
According to the school headmaster, Solomon Bagmen, the inspection, which took place after a Professional Learning Community (PLC) meeting, was part of routine efforts to ensure discipline and maintain focus during academic hours.
The search revealed an alarming number of mobile phones and electronic gadgets hidden in classrooms items that are strictly prohibited.
“This is just the classrooms, not even the dormitories,” said the headmaster, describing the sheer volume of seized items. “If students are in class with all these gadgets while teachers are trying to teach, what kind of concentration can we expect?”
Solomon Bagmen, clarified that the purpose of the seizure was not punitive but aimed at safeguarding the academic integrity of students.
“We don’t hate them,” the headmaster referring to the students. “If you’re found with a phone during exams, your papers could be cancelled. We’re simply keeping them safe and will invite their parents to identify and collect them.”
Solomon Bagmen explained that each phone is labelled with the owner’s name and securely stored until a parent or guardian retrieves it.
However, the situation took a violent turn later in the evening.
“Around 8 p.m., I was asleep when I was woken up and told that students were throwing stones,” the headmaster recounted.
Police were called in to contain the unrest, but by then, significant damage had already been done.
Two school buses were vandalised, the senior housemaster’s office was ransacked, and stockpiles of cleaning supplies, including detergents, disinfectants, and chemical catalysts, were looted.
“The biggest concern now is what these students plan to do with the stolen catalytic agents,” said a worried headmaster. “They could use them as weapons or for dangerous experiments.”
The police are currently investigating the incident, while school authorities work to assess the full extent of the damage and restore calm on campus.
Parents have been urged to engage with their children and support the school’s efforts to maintain discipline and safety.
By Peter Quao Adattor
