It was offensive to ask Rastafarians to build their own schools - Ablakwa blasts NAGRAT boss

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says it was offensive for the NAGRAT President, Angel Carbonou to tell Rastafarians  build their own schools as offensive.

Mr Ablakwa said the comment  ill-timed in the debate on whether Achimota School should admit children with dreadlocks.

Mr Ablakwa said: “In many other jurisdictions, far-reaching reforms have taken place about school rules so as to build a fairer, just and equitable society”, warning: “Let us not, through school rules, introduce an apartheid regime albeit via the backdoor”.

“This is the reason I will condemn statements to the effect that Rastafarians should build their own schools. As a non-Presbyterian who was admitted to PRESEC, I feel terribly offended by such reckless statements”, he said as quoted by pulsegh.

“As I have noted earlier, we need to rethink our concept of discipline in our schools. Getting pupils and students to appreciate diversity and the beauty of different backgrounds, beliefs and creeds does not undermine discipline by any stretch of imagination.

“Tolerance and accepting unique identities at that age cannot be inimical in any educational system. It is rather an awesome positive quality to imbibe in our children. In any case, don’t our children see the people we are refusing to admit all around them in real life and in their reading materials?” the former deputy education minister added.

He said: “We must quickly fix this mess and get away from the distraction. The two students and all minority students facing blatant discrimination must be admitted immediately in the interest of their supreme welfare as the Children’s Act, Act 560 demands.”