The Safe School campaign, which was started in 2018 to address the issues of the incidence of violence in schools, has had its logo outdoored by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The Safe School Annual Awards programme, which is intended to recognise and honour schools, teachers, and students who exhibit attitudes and behaviours consistent with the Safe Schools implementation in schools at the district, regional, and national levels, was launched at the outdoor event last Thursday in Accra. The event’s goal is to inspire other schools and individuals.
Participants in the education sector, students, and GES representatives attended the event, which had as its theme “Harnessing our collective effort to promote a safe, protective, and inclusive school environment.”
Awards
Some students who won the National Safe Schools Logo Competition, which aimed to give the Safe Schools Programme a name and exposure, received awards.
Ofori Enock Jibril, a student at the Ashanti’s Fomena T.I. Ahmadiya Senior High School, was declared the overall champion and received Ghc 7,000.
Each recipient earned GH 4,000, including Yasmin Alidu Zendin from the Early Childhood Development Centre at Agona Swedru in the Central Region, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Fayad from Nyohini Presbyterian Junior High School “B” in the Northern Region, and Hannah Egbenya from the Volta School for the Deaf in the Volta Region.
Safe environment
In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Mamle Andrews, said that in order for the country to achieve inclusive and quality education, children must be raised in a secure environment free from abuse, neglect, and maltreatment.
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To end all types of violence in schools, he said, “the ministry and the GES developed the Safe School Programme in 2018 for this reason.
Dr. Adutwum further stated that the ministry would keep assisting the guidance and counselling units via the GES to intensify the localization of the Safe Schools programme by training staff, instructing students in classrooms, and working continuously with parents, families, communities, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the program’s success.
He believed that making use of individual and group responsibilities and knowledge would aid in preventing and effectively combating bullying in all its manifestations, including cyberbullying.
Violence-free
Dr. Eric Nkansah, Director-General of the GES, reaffirmed the organization’s belief that it is everyone’s duty to ensure that schools are free from violence, which is why the slogan “Safe school, a shared responsibility” was chosen.
He claimed that the phrase stressed the necessity for all hands-on deck to create and advance a setting that is secure, welcoming, and safe for students.
“We say thank you to all our partners for your commitment to our quest to rid our schools of all forms of violence, including corporal punishment, sexual harassment and bullying. I am confident that through our collaborative efforts, the Safe School Programme will be a success,” he added.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in the country, Fiachra McAsey, stated that for good quality education, it was important for children to have a safe environment where they could learn and achieve their goals.
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