By: Esther Aidoo
School students in transition schools across the country will return to campus to complete their first term of the academic year after nearly three months of vacation. For many students, returning to school brings excitement, renewed friendships and anticipation for academic activities ahead. However, the transition from home back to school also presents important safety and security considerations that should not be overlooked.
According to the Executive Director of the Misornu Safety Centre, DCOP (Rtd.) David Senanu Eklu students will be travelling long distances across the country, reconnecting with peers and readjusting to boarding school routines.
During such periods, there can be exposure to risks such as road traffic accidents, bullying, theft, drug experimentation and conflicts among students.
The Executive Director of the Misornu Safety Centre, said road safety authorities in Ghana continue to warn that road traffic crashes remain a major national concern, particularly on intercity routes frequently used by students.
These realities he said, highlights the importance of strengthening preventive safety awareness among students, parents, transport operators, school authorities and surrounding communities.
For DCOP Eklu, the journey back to school is the first stage where safety awareness becomes very important. Students have been advised to plan their travel carefully and, where possible, travel during daylight hours.
Parents and guardians, according to him, should be informed of the travel route and expected arrival time and students should board vehicles only at recognized transport terminals and avoid accepting rides from strangers or unregistered vehicles.
He advised that personal belongings such as school fees and documents should be kept securely and not displayed unnecessarily in public places. Students should also remain alert at busy transport stations where theft or pickpocketing may occur.
Once students return to school, they must readjust to campus life and remain mindful of their conduct. He cautioned that bullying remains one of the most common safety challenges reported in schools. He warned students to avoid intimidation, harassment or physical aggression toward their colleagues. Equally important is the need to stay away from drugs and substance abuse.
Reports in recent years show attempts by some individuals to introduce substances such as marijuana or tramadol into school environments. Students must resist peer pressure and report such activities to school authorities. Conflicts among students he noted should be resolved peacefully. Instead of fighting, students should seek assistance from teachers, housemasters, counsellors or school prefects.
For parents and guardians he advised that they play a critical role in reinforcing safety awareness before students return to school. Before departure, parents should discuss responsible decision‑making, avoiding bad company and reporting safety concerns early. The Drivers and Transport Unions on their part must ensure vehicles are roadworthy and avoid overloading. Speeding and reckless driving he noted remains major causes of road crashes in Ghana and called on drivers transporting students to exercise patience, professionalism and caution.
School authorities have also been charged to reinforce discipline, safety awareness and conflict resolution programmes as students return to campus. Communities surrounding schools should also support efforts to keep students safe by discouraging the sale of alcohol, drugs or harmful substances to students.
School authorities were advised to conduct fire safety audits, broken fences or weak entry and exit points, brief the security staff and workers on routine safety and security measures. Schools that have volunteer cadets must organise briefing sessions on safety and security awareness to better safety and security consciousness.
DCOP (Rtd.) David Senanu Eklu emphasised that it is a shared responsibility to ensure students safety as they travel back to their respective schools
