Bolgatanga Technical Institute closed ‘indefinitely’ after student unrest

The Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH) has been shut down indefinitely after a violent student riot left parts of the campus destroyed and academic work disrupted.

The disturbances broke out late Thursday, August 14, when groups of students set fire to school property. By the time calm was restored, the school’s library and the senior housemaster’s office had been reduced to ashes. Authorities say the closure is necessary to protect lives and prevent further damage while investigations continue.

Although no injuries were reported, the scale of the destruction has been described as extensive. The full cost of repairs is still being assessed, but officials admit it will be significant.

BOTECH is not new to this type of student unrest. The school was temporarily shut down in 2022 after a protest. Incidents of this nature have also been recorded in other technical and secondary schools.

These unrests commonly stem from strict exam supervision, disagreements with teachers, or complaints about poor living conditions.

Excerpts have warned that these repeated incidents point to a much bigger crisis. They opine that depending on police investigations and temporary closures will do little to tackle the root causes of the problem.

One education analyst explained, “We need to move beyond reacting to these events. Dialogue between students and school management is key if we want to stop this cycle of violence.”

Beyond the damage to buildings, the indefinite closure is expected to derail the academic calendar for hundreds of students. Parents and students have been plunged into a state of worry as many of the students were gearing up for crucial examinations.

This situation also poses a challenge to the government and school management. The financial responsibility to repair the damages caused during these riots could be used to improve living conditions or invest in learning materials.

For now, however, the school remains closed, and the community waits for answers from investigators on what exactly triggered Thursday’s violence.