SELIKEM AVLE AND SEWENAM AVLE vs. THE HEAD ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL [2023]DLHC16075

SELIKEM AVLE AND SEWENAM AVLE vs. THE HEAD ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND... [2023]DLHC16075

Date	2023-06-08
Suit No.	SUIT NO: HR/0036/2023
Citation No.	[2023]DLHC16075

HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE BARBARA TETTEH-CHARWAY (MRS.)

FAUSTINUS YIRILABUO FOR THEOPHILUS DZIMEGA FOR APPLICANTS – PRESENT

SAMUEL NARH FOR 1ST RESPONDENT – PRESENT

[2023]DLHC16075
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SELIKEM AVLE
AND SEWENAM AVLE<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE HEAD
ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION ONE, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: black; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

</div>COUNSEL&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>FAUSTINUS
YIRILABUO FOR THEOPHILUS DZIMEGA FOR APPLICANTS&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>–
PRESENT<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:normal;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">SAMUEL NARH FOR 1ST RESPONDENT
– PRESENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:normal;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE BARBARA TETTEH-CHARWAY (MRS.)<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;<div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:normal;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;1]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The main issue arising from the instant
action for the enforcement of the applicants’ fundamental human rights is
whether or not the withholding of applicants’ transcripts by 1st
Respondent as security for payment of unpaid tuition fees constitutes a
violation of the applicants’ right to education. <o:p></o:p>2]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The undisputed
facts of this case are that the applicants, one of whom is a minor, were
enrolled in the 1st Respondent’s School, Association International
School, until August 2022, when their mother and next friend, Nana Akua Avle, decided
to withdraw them from the School. By then, the first applicant, Selikem Avle,
was in Grade 11 which is the penultimate year, while the 2nd
applicant, Sewenam Avle, was in Grade 12, which is the final year.<o:p></o:p>3]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In view of unpaid
tuition fees owed 1st Respondent by the applicants, the quantum of
which applicants’ mother strenuously disputes, the applicants and other
students whose fees had not been fully paid, were directed by 1st
Respondent to stay at home until their fees were paid.<o:p></o:p>4]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is the case
of the applicants’ mother and next friend that the applicants felt embarrassed
by the directive to stay at home while their friends went back to school. As a
result, she took a decision to withdraw them from the School. It is the further
case of applicants’ mother and next friend that the 1st Respondent
has refused to release the applicants’ transcripts to her upon request, and by
so doing, has prevented the applicants from being enrolled in a different
school to enable them continue with their education. She further asserts that
the conduct of 1st Respondent in withholding the applicants’
transcripts, even for periods during which they had fully paid their tuition
fees, is not only unreasonable but also constitutes a violation of the
applicants’ right to education.<o:p></o:p>5]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In response to
the applicants’ action, the 1st Respondent filed an affidavit in
answer in which she stated that as part of the school’s policy, students were
required each year to s</main>