NATIONAL HEADMASTER GOES MAD…Slaps students…Forces them to drink fly-infested porridge

Information reaching TODAY indicates that students and teachers of Ghana National College in Cape Coast live on the campus with fear as the Headmaster of the school, Mr Robert Koomson-Barnes, unleashes terror on both students and the staff.

Ghana Natioanl College Crest

The paper gathered that Mr Koomson-Barnes has been assaulting students for no apparent reason and threatening to dismiss them if they fail to bring their parents in to sign a bond of good behaviour.

According to sources close to the Headmaster, Mr Koomson-Barnes has also been verbally assaulting teachers at the slightest provocation.

Sources close to the school told TODAY that on Monday October 12, 2009 the Headmaster forced a final year science student of the school to drink a cupful of rice porridge with houseflies in it.

The Headmaster, according to the sources, went to the dining hall that day to see to it that students consumed all their breakfast since he had heard that most students waste food when they go to the dining hall.

The sources said Mr Koomson-Barnes noticed that the final year student had his head on the table and began moving towards him.

The other students who were at the same table sensed danger and poured their leftover porridge—some of which had houseflies in it—into the final year science student’s cup, creating the impression that they were able to finish their breakfast.

The Headmaster, with the assistance of one home economics madam, inquired from the boy why he had not touched his breakfast and when the boy tried to explain that he had actually finished it and that his friends had poured their leftovers into his cup, the headmaster gave him two hefty slaps to shut him up.

According to the students, the boy was not feeling well, adding that that was why he had his head on the table, but the Headmaster would not wait for his explanation.

According to them, the boy was forced to drink the rice porridge with houseflies as the Headmaster looked on, threatening to sack him if he failed to do so.

Another female student was reported to have suffered the same ordeal at the hands of the Headmaster for refusing to finish her meal.

Some teachers who spoke to the paper lamented that the action of the Headmaster was disgusting, adding that he could have adopted better ways of punishing the children than assaulting them in such a manner.

They added that he does not even spare them (teachers) if they commit minor errors, verbally assaulting them.

TODAY found out that the final year science student was asked to bring his parents to sign a bond to empty his bowl anytime he goes to the dining hall.

Speaking to the Headmaster in his office, he admitted the offence but was quick to add that he did that to instill discipline in the students.

Mr Koomson-Barnes said that no matter how tough he was being on the students, he did it to redeem the bad image of the school.

“I even spoke with some of the students this morning that I am not being so hard on them, but I’m only training them to become responsible people in future,” he said.

Mr Koomson-Barnes told this reporter that discipline and academic performance of students has improved drastically in the school since he assumed office in 2002 due to his policies and the programme that he introduced.

FROM MAGDALENE SEY, CAPE COAST