Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that no student is required to perform domestic work for a headmaster or teacher.

Speaking to the press, Mr Iddrisu said the directive followed concerns brought to public attention in relation to the Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS).

He said the Director-General of the GES had been directed to ensure that students were not treated as domestic servants by teachers or headmasters.

The minister said the directive followed the publication of Inside the Dreaded Headmaster’s Bungalow by investigative journalist Manasseh Azuri Awuni. The publication centred on allegations involving former Obuasi SHTS headmaster Zakaria Abdulai and female students at the school.

“It is a publication of Inside the Dreaded Headmaster's Bungalow. So accordingly the Director General of GES have been directed that no student, no student should serve any headmaster or teacher as if they were the domestic servants of their headmaster and teachers forthwith,” the minister said.

Mr Iddrisu said the directive formed part of broader measures to protect students from abuse arising from the power imbalance between teachers and students.

“So those of you who understand the power relations, the teacher is in a position of power and the student is a helpless person. We will protect every student from those abuses,” he said.

He also announced plans to strengthen policies and the legal framework for the protection of students, including legislative changes if necessary.