The Ghana Education Service has warned heads of second cycle institutions against collecting what they describe as unapproved fees and items from Form 1 students upon admission.
“It has come to the attention of Management of Ghana Education Service that, some Heads of Second Cycle Schools are collecting unapproved levies and items such as P.T.A. levies, maintenance levies, paint, cement, reams of A4 paper, foolscap sheets, dustbins, big padlocks, bulbs among others from parents/guardians of Form One students upon admission in their schools.”
“Management views these allegations with all seriousness they deserve since Heads of schools have been cautioned through several mediums about such practices,” the statement said.
Portions of the statement signed by the Deputy Director General, Dr. Kwabena Bempah Tandoh sighted by this website continued to read, “Management wishes to state that, the above practice must cease forthwith. All unapproved levies and items collected from parents/guardians must be refunded/returned to them immediately. Accordingly, Management is by this letter requesting all Regional Directors of Education to ensure that Second Cycle Schools in their jurisdiction are monitored to comply with the above directives. Henceforth, all shops or sales points in the schools must be closed during admission periods.”
Background
New students reporting to second cycle institutions under the government’s Free SHS policy in the Upper East Region are expected to report along with torchlights, lightbulbs, boxes of temporary makers, reams of A4 sheets among others, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools has confirmed to A1 Radio’s Mark Smith on the Day Break Upper East Show today, Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
In prospectuses cited by this website, students were expected to purchase their own uniforms when in the past, the government insisted that the cost of uniforms be absorbed under the Free Senior High School policy.
Additionally, students are expected to purchase a box of whiteboard markers each, a ream of A4 sheets, energy-saving bulbs, a litre of PowerZone and powdered soap each, torch lights, and two batteries.
When contacted, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) explained that these additions have been made to allow the schools systems run effectively. While there is a general list of items students would have to procure, some peculiar items would have to be added to lists of schools in the Upper East Region for specific reasons.
Richard Akumbasi, the Upper East Regional President of the Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) said, “You know there is a general basic requirement and there are some that are school specific. [There are] some schools that may need some specific items, peculiar to them. For example, if it is a mission school and they are demanding a Bible, you will understand that because of the peculiarity of that school, you would definitely need a Bible. We have a common prospectus that runs through the entire schools [in the region]. This was discussed and sent to the Director-General for approval. All the heads have been schooled on that. We have told every head not to stray from what has been generally agreed upon.”
“Recently we had some challenges with one or two items and I am sure that in due course, we would come to a conclusion. As far as the Upper East Region is concerned, we agreed and sent it to the Director-General,” he said.
While these issues have been added to the prospectus of some schools, they remain a contentious issue among heads of schools.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
