Mr. Gyan Jacob Kwaku,?Regional Coordinator for Programs, Student Affairs and Public Relations at the?Greater Accra Regional SRC says,?Implanting democratic ideals in students in the schools is a very important priority because ?children grow into tomorrow as they live today?.
“The truth is that there is little evidence of democratic ideals in our schools.? Our traditionally oriented schools are places where certain information is given, where certain lessons are learnt, where certain habits are formed, and where students succeed by being judged on what others have decided is important. In this traditional model education is seen as a preparation for the future where students learn things ?just in case? they will need it.”
He noted that the nature of relationships between student and student, student and teacher, and teacher and teacher? and, of course, with the wider community can be very harmonic if the platform for students to express their views peacefully to their authorities is created.
This, he averred, explains the need for Student Representative Councils (SRC) in all schools and regions of the nation. The development of SRC in?? schools is for student governance to be based on participatory democratic values. ?”This ideal would be able to tap into, and unleash, the ?immense intelligence? of all students.? The SRC believes that ?all those who are affected by social institutions must have a say in producing and managing them? and students must also be given the chance to partake in decision taking that affect them.”
The recent happenings and rampage of students in the Walewale Senor High Technical School, according to Mr. Gyan Jacob Kwaku?is a prove for the need for the creation of the regional SRC to offer a platform for students to dialogue with their school authorities and to bring an end to violence as a channel to solve student issues.
The angry students vandalised school properties including computers, windows and television sets belonging to the Headmaster. The grievances of the students need to be attended to but could be channelled to the school authorities through the ideals of the src which is to emancipate students through dialogue and a philosophy of non-violence.
He called on all stakeholders to help institute the Regional Students Representative Council in all regions and schools in the nation.
