Kofi Asare, the executive director of Africa Education Watch, is advocating for the establishment of case management protocols for schools, especially in secondary institutions.
Asare’s call is in reference to the death of a first-year student of the Aburi Girls’ Senior High School in the Eastern Region.
The student, Stacey Okyere, who had been complaining of intense stomach pains, tragically passed away on Monday (5 February).
She was allegedly denied medical attention by the school nurse, who reportedly accused her of feigning illness repeatedly. The family say the inaction of the school caused the death of their daughter.
Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (13 February) Asare said, “In many of these places, students are denied exeat, and medical dispensation is delayed as a result, that is why I say that the duty of care is neglected, because among others discretion is the vehicle for its exercise.”
“If there were protocols, school level policy to guide these processes, well documented, reporting systems, where everybody must tick against the box at a point, then school authorities are conscious of the fact that in the exercise of this duty of care, we are guided by this protocol which shows that, we are accountable.”
“I am sure they will do things differently. That is why I want to re-emphasise that, we need a case management protocol not just in the sickbays but in the schools,” Asare said.
Listen to Kofi Asare in the attached audio clip below:
Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has commenced an internal investigation into the death of the first-year student of the Aburi Girls’ Senior High School.
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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