Headteacher Arrested for Preventing Two BECE Candidates from Writing Mathematics Paper

Akoakwa Sarpong, also known as Batious, the headteacher and proprietor of The Big Six School in Meduma, Kwabre East of the Ashanti Region, has been arrested and is currently in police custody at Mamponteng.

The arrest follows reports that he prevented two candidates from writing their mathematics paper during the just ended Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). During police interrogation, Sarpong claimed it was not his intention to stop the students from writing such a critical paper. He explained that he isolated the students to pressure them into contacting their parents to pay an outstanding balance of GH₵700 each. He added that he is willing to register the two students for the upcoming private BECE next month to make up for the missed paper.

However, earlier reports suggest other motives. One of the affected students, Jackline Adomah Yeboah, alleged that the headteacher was angry with her for refusing to meet him in his office the previous Friday. She claimed he later told other students that he would not allow her to sit for the exam.

The second student also said she owed the school money and alleged that the headteacher locked both of them in a room while the mathematics paper was being written. 

Investigations are ongoing.