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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Mar 2013 : 02:03:00
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THE TWO FACES OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE’S RIOT DEMOCRATIC STUDENT UNIONISM IS PARTLY THE SOLUTION
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Tuesday, 05 March 2013
Written by: Ousman Njie
"Riots are spontaneous outburst of emotions. They are unpredictable. Each riot only needs a spark that serves as a pretext for it to spread like bush fire. The St. Augustine's riot is no exception. In the St Augustine's case, the spark was the holding of mock exams to the exclusion of some students who for one reason or another were prevented from sitting the exams by Father Manneh.
Every riot which breaks out has its own dynamics. In the case of St Augustine's Senior Secondary School the grievances against exclusion from the mock exams provoked long held grievances to surface thus leading to an outburst of emotions which resulted in the throwing of stones and the disruption of normal school life.
In yesterday's issue, Foroyaa reporters published the views of some angry students. They painted a grim picture of the stewardship of Father Manneh. However, when students on all sides of the academic spectrum were spoken to Foroyaa could get a balanced picture. It is abundantly clear to us that if no student was excluded from sitting to the mock exams there would be grievances against Father Manneh for being a disciplinarian but there would have been no riot. There is no doubt that students have a lot to explain to their parents if they go up to grade twelve and are excluded from sitting their exams because of administrative decision. One could understand the motivating factor for emotional outburst against Father Manneh's administrative decision which of course is designed to register high performance for the school as some students also claimed.
Some students on one side of the political spectrum did accuse Father Mnnneh of seizing shoes worn to school that are not full shoes and mobile phones and of preventing students from leaving class or being late for class because of prayers. Other students on the other side felt that if Father Manneh were to be more diplomatic in speech with the students and more accommodating the students against his administration would have realised what they have already realised that he wants the best for them. They support his zero tolerance for any tinkering with mobile phones while in school. They support his zero tolerance for lateness and absenteeism. They support the initiatives he takes to find sponsors for poor students. However, they maintain that he should not seize the shoes of poor students who cannot afford full shoes and should not be too harsh in speech and actions against the students. They also suggested that he should be more accommodating to students who wish to observe their prayers. Such students are convinced that once all Grade 12 students are allowed to take their mock exams and sit to the Grade 12 exams without exclusion the riot provoked by the circumstances would be history.
In the long run, the schools should encourage the students to have student governments in schools comprising elected representatives of students who listen to their grievances and convey them to the administration for redress. This is the way forward as an alternative dispute prevention mechanism." |
Edited by - kobo on 10 Mar 2013 09:34:33 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2013 : 09:34:51
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ST. AUGUSTINE’S RE-OPENS PARENTS TO SIGN AN UNDERTAKING
Foroyaa Burning Issues: Published on Saturday, 09 March 2013
Written by: Alagi F. S. sora
"St. Augustine’s Senior Secondary School (SASSS) in Banjul, which was temporarily closed down on the 25th of February 2013, was re-opened yesterday, 7 March, for students to resume normal classes after the ten days interruption.
It was disclosed that the school authority had a meeting on Wednesday with the parents of the students in grades 10 and 11 in order for them to sign an undertaking prior to the re-opening of the school. According to a parent of one of the students, they were obliged to sign an undertaking which entails some conditions among which are for them to pay for the damages caused to the vehicle of the Vice Principal and some classroom windows. The parent added that the other conditions are for them to ensure that their children are punctual and regular in school, complete all school assignments given to them by the teachers, and obey all the school rules and not to be involved in violence in the future. It was also gathered that the school vice principal who found himself entangled in this problem with the students has been suspended for three months. When the Principal, Mr. Martin Gomez, was approached at the school grounds in Banjul to throw light on the recent developments regarding the undertaking, he responded that he was not mandated to talk to the press without an order from the Board of Directors of the school. He however disclosed that they had a meeting with the parents of the grades 11 and 12 and that all of them had to sign an undertaking before normal classes resumed on Thursday, 7 March. Mr. Gomez added that the grade 12 students were at that moment having their mock exams and will also be required to sign the same undertaking after they finished the session. Visiting the school yesterday, this reporter was informed that the continuation of the mock exams of the grade 12 students has been postponed to Monday, 11 March, in order to allow the PTA to meet today, Friday, 8 March 2013." |
Edited by - kobo on 10 Mar 2013 11:23:00 |
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