The interdiction of Mr Mfo Richard Tibetor, a teacher at Okadjakrom Senior High Technical School in the Oti Region, over alleged sexual misconduct with a female student is yet another painful reminder of the growing rot that threatens the moral fabric of our educational system.
The viral video of the incident is not only disgraceful but also exposes the dangers students—particularly young girls—face in what should be safe spaces of learning.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) deserves commendation for acting swiftly by interdicting the teacher and barring him from the school premises while investigations continue.
But this case, like several others in recent times, points to a larger, systemic problem: a culture of silence, impunity, and the failure of deterrent measures to check misconduct among a minority of teachers who betray their sacred duty.
Teachers are not just dispensers of knowledge; they are guardians of the nation’s future. Their role demands the highest standards of discipline and professionalism.
For any teacher to prey on vulnerable students is not only a violation of the GES Code of Conduct but an assault on the very trust that parents, guardians, and society place in them. Such acts are criminal—not just unethical—and must be treated with the full weight of the law.
Sadly, this is not an isolated case. Only recently, the Assistant Headmaster of KNUST Senior High School was dismissed after being captured on video fondling a female student; another scandal that sparked widespread outrage.
These repeated incidents raise troubling questions: How many more such abuses occur quietly without being caught on camera? How many students suffer in silence because they fear stigma, disbelief, or retaliation?
This cycle must end. It is not enough for the GES to issue statements of condemnation after scandals erupt. Preventive mechanisms must be strengthened.
The Ghanaian Times calls for regular sensitisation of teachers on professional ethics, stronger monitoring systems in schools, and safe, confidential reporting channels for students.
Above all, offenders must face not only disciplinary sanctions but also prosecution under the law. Anything less emboldens others.
Parents and communities too must demand accountability. Sexual predators thrive in silence and secrecy. It is therefore the duty of all stakeholders to create an environment where victims can speak without fear and where misconduct is swiftly exposed and punished.
In our view, Ghana cannot afford to sacrifice the well-being of its children at the altar of negligence and weak enforcement. The classroom must be a sanctuary of safety, dignity, and learning—not a hunting ground for predators in authority.
A single act of misconduct by a teacher shatters trust, scars a child, and undermines the future of the nation.
The message must be loud and clear: there will be zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in our schools.
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