Ishmael Famous, a teacher at Asuoso Senior High School (SHS) in the Offinso North Municipality, is still grappling with the nightmare of losing sight in his left eye after an altercation with a student during which he was stabbed in the eye.
Ishmael, who teaches crop husbandry and General Agric, lost his sight after the violent encounter in November 2024.
He described the experience as devastating and shared that he felt his life was completely over moments after the incident.
“I was inspired by passion to teach and it’s been three years. Asuoso was my first station but now I regret going into the profession,” he confessed during an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.
The incident, which started as a normal day for Ishmael, escalated when he asked the student to go to class and study. The student resisted and became aggressive.
In retaliation, the student attacked Ishmael, throwing a punch which quickly escalated into a physical fight. Ishmael, attempting to defend himself, began throwing his cane to stop the student, but the situation only worsened.
“I didn’t know he was holding a jack-knife, and he was stabbing me with it,” Ishmael recalled. “At the time, I thought he was just throwing fists.” The teacher did not realize the gravity of his injuries until food vendors at the school canteen began screaming.
“I didn’t see anything again until I woke up in the hospital,” he said, revealing that he had been stabbed in the neck, head, and other parts of his body. Blood was oozing, and he was unaware of how serious the situation had become until he lost consciousness.
The traumatic experience robbed him of his vision and left him feeling unsafe in his workplace.
Ishmael confessed that, despite his passion for teaching, he wished he could regain his sight, even if it meant having to leave the teaching profession. “I would gladly have my sight restored, even if it means losing my job,” he said.
Regarding the student who attacked him, Ishmael shared that the individual was arrested after the incident but later granted bail. The case is still before the court, with the student no longer attending school since the attack.
“He is still in Asuoso but has stopped coming to school,” Ishmael added.
The incident has left Ishmael with a heavy heart, as he reflects on the dangers teachers sometimes face in their line of duty.
His story is a poignant reminder of the importance of maintaining safety in schools and ensuring that conflicts are handled peacefully.
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