Bawku Senior High School: Military Deployed and Security Tightened After Violent Student Rampage over WASSCE Regulations

Normalcy has returned to Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region following a violent rampage by final-year students that necessitated the deployment of military personnel. The unrest, which broke out around 1:00 a.m. on Monday, June 15, was reportedly triggered by the school administration's strict enforcement of examination regulations to prevent malpractice during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). While the situation is currently under control and academic activities have resumed, the incident has left a trail of destruction and raised serious concerns regarding student discipline and staff safety.

During the disturbance, disgruntled students targeted school property and staff residences, causing significant damage to both government and personal belongings. The violence escalated into physical assaults on faculty members; one teacher was severely injured and required treatment at a nearby health facility, while another was allegedly abducted during the chaos. Reports indicate that the rampaging students were specifically motivated by their inability to engage in examination malpractice, leading them to vent their frustrations on the teachers responsible for invigilation and rule enforcement.

Isaac Agbeko Azasoo, the Bawku Municipal Director of Education, confirmed that security measures have been significantly strengthened to protect lives and property. Despite the severity of the attack, he reassured parents and the public that examinations and regular classes are proceeding without further interruption. He noted that while no arrests have been made yet—largely because the cover of darkness made it difficult to identify specific perpetrators—investigations are actively underway to hold those responsible accountable for the vandalism and assaults.

In his address to the school community, Mr. Azasoo urged students to refrain from violence and instead utilize established institutional channels to voice their grievances. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the safety of educators during high-stakes examination periods and the increasing trend of student-led unrest in second-cycle institutions. Education authorities are now assessing the full extent of the financial loss caused by the destruction of facilities as they work toward a long-term solution to prevent future occurrences of such lawlessness.