Nkwanta South: Education director and teachers call for review of curfew hours

The Nkwanta South education director, Jonathan Korsinah and teachers have appealed to the government and the Interior Ministry to review the curfew imposed on the Nkwanta township.

Speaking to Asaase News, Korsinah said it has become necessary to enable students and teachers to recover the lost periods due to the conflict.

“It has become necessary to review the curfew hours to enable students and teachers to recover the lost periods of learning due to the conflict because the conflict has affected education in the area as schools, once very effective with teaching and learning, now become unstable and unattractive.”

He added that the conflict has affected education in the area, stressing the need for a review of the curfew to enable students and teachers to return to school.

Some schools in the Nkwanta South township and its environs have been temporarily closed since November 2023 due to inter-tribal conflict among some three ethnic groups, which led to the deaths of many.

“The conflict has impacted negatively on education, making students and parents scared of sending their children to school even though measures have been put in place to safeguard the lives of the children.”

The educational director bemoans the negative impact the conflict has imposed on education, making students and parents scared of sending their children to school even though measures have been put in place to safeguard the lives of the children.

He appealed to parents to encourage their children to return to school for teaching and learning.

“I want to call on all other teachers who have fled and may be listening to us now to come back and resume teaching. I want to assure them of the maximum measures that have been put in place together with all security agencies and they have also assured us to protect both teachers and students during and after school. “

Pre-tertiary students have also petitioned the Nkwanta South Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) for maximum protection for both teachers and students during and after school hours.

After receiving the petitions from both students and the education directorate, the municipal chief executive (MCE), Bright Lenwah, thanked them for their efforts in restoring peace in the area.

He assured them that steps are being taken to review the curfew in the area to enable a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.

The MCE urged the various ethnic groups to engage with their youth in the various communities and lay down their arms.

Some senior high school teachers who spoke to Asaase News lamented that they have lost teacher-student engagement hours since the students are not allowed to stay in the school any longer to learn. This, they said, is really affecting them.

“We have lost all students and teacher hours due to the curfew hours given to be observed, and students can no longer stay in school for a longer period of time. This is affecting teaching and learning,” a teacher lamented.

“Now, some of the students are not even ready to learn on their own, while others are still at home with the fear of being shot when they come to school. So we are therefore appealing to the authorities and the municipal security council to help review the curfew hours.” Millicent Boafo, a teacher said.

Again, they expressed worry over the students not being ready to learn on their own, even at home.

They are, therefore, appealing to the authorities and the municipal security council to help address the need to review the curfew hours.

Reporting by Solomon Mensah-Ahiable in the Oti Region