The Ministry of Health says the Principal of the Techiman-Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Hellen Dwamena, was justified in taking a firm approach to academic discipline because of the potential consequences of allowing poorly performing students to progress into the healthcare system.
According to the Ministry’s spokesperson, Tony Goodman, although some of the concerns raised by students were legitimate, the committee that investigated the crisis found that the principal’s actions were largely aimed at enforcing academic standards.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Goodman said the principal’s position was that the situation at the school required a radical approach to restore discipline.
“The principal’s argument is that, from what was happening in the school, it required some radicalism,” he said.
He explained that the school had rules requiring students who failed a specified number of courses to repeat or, in some cases, be withdrawn from the programme.
“There are arrangements that if you fail a number of courses, you either repeat or you are withdrawn,” he said.
Mr Goodman said some students had accumulated as many as 11 failed courses from their first year, while students whose cumulative grade point averages fell below the required standard could also face dismissal.
“Some students had failed about 11 courses since first year. If your CGPA is not good, you will be dismissed,” he added.
He said the principal’s strict approach should therefore be viewed in the context of the responsibility nursing schools have to ensure that graduates entering the health sector are adequately trained and competent.
“What the woman was doing: she was saving humanity because these are people who will complete school and be sent to hospitals to administer care and treatment to patients,” Mr Goodman said.
He maintained that the committee’s findings did not justify the principal’s removal and that the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, had relied on the report in deciding to allow her to remain in office.
Mr Goodman also defended the credibility of the committee, saying it included senior professionals and representatives of the various stakeholders involved in the dispute.
He said the chairperson was a professor and senior nursing officer, while other prominent individuals and student leaders also served on the committee.
According to him, the composition of the committee was intended to ensure that the findings reflected the situation on the ground and that the recommendations presented to the Minister were credible.
He insisted that the report had not been altered to protect the principal.
“Nothing has been added or taken out of the report,” he said.
Mr Goodman appealed to the community, students, and other stakeholders to remain calm as authorities implement the committee’s recommendations and work towards reopening the institution.
He said the priority should now be to restore discipline, rebuild confidence, and protect the reputation of the nursing school.
“We shouldn’t let the efforts of the founding leaders be in vain,” he said.
The comments come amid preparations to reopen the school following months of closure triggered by student demonstrations over concerns about the management and administration of the institution.
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