About 14 computers belonging to the Visually Impaired Department of the Okuapeman Senior High School have been stolen.
These equipment include 10 desktop computers, four laptops and a sound system used for the Oral English test during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The equipment were stolen from the school’s resource centre while the students were on a short break during the Easter festivities.
According to sources who spoke to newscenta.com under condition of anonymity, the stolen computers are the only gadgets the students use in training for internal and external West African Examination Council (WAEC) organised exams.
The source indicated that the stolen items are going to affect the preparation of students towards the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the conduct of the exams if not replaced in due time.
The source noted that the school for about seven years now, has been the only secondary school in Ghana permitted by WAEC to use computers to write the final exams for the visually impaired students.
“Even before the incident, our computers were not enough. And now that this has happened, it’s going to exacerbate the situation since WASSCE will be starting in three months’ time,” the source lamented.
According to the source, a good number of students do not know how to use braille, and the computer is the only medium they are familiar with in writing exams.
“If we do not get the computer, it’s going to cause a lot of problems for us,” they stressed.
Speaking on the issue of psychological intervention for the students, our source said that students will be prepared psychologically to not think that their exams is in jeopardy.
They further appealed to government, corporate organizations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and philanthropists in the country to assist the school to replace the stolen computers of the visually impaired students.
“We are appealing to the government of Ghana, corporate institutions, churches and individuals to help the school with about 20 desktop computers, 10 laptops and a sound system by July to help students write the exams successfully,” the source said.
According to the source, this will go a long way to help students write the exams and proceed to the University as well as become responsible and productive members of the society.
The source revealed that the case has been reported to the police in Akropong–Akuapem.
The Headmaster of the school, Rev Richard Koranteng Afari, when contacted declined to speak to the issue.
The issue has been reported to the police and investigations are underway.
