Prof Opoku Amankwah – GES Boss
Some parents whose children attend Adamanso D/A Primary School in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region are up in arms against the authorities of the school.
The parents are furious because they claim that the authorities of the primary school had asked each of the parents to contribute GH¢60.00 per child for the construction of a toilet facility and to procure some furniture for the school.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE in separate interviews, some of the parents could not fathom why they had pay for the construction of toilet facility and procurement of furniture while they pay school fees.
PTA’s Decision
DAILY GUIDE learnt that the lack of toilet facility in the school contributes to pupil and teacher absenteeism and poor academic performance of pupils.
Meanwhile, investigations by the paper revealed that some of the parents expressed disgust about the deplorable nature of the toilet facility at the school.
They claimed that the children were usually seen urinating and defecating openly by the side of their classroom since the toilet facility at the school was not in good shape.
To this end, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school at a meeting decided that the parents should contribute GH¢60.00 per child to help construct a modern toilet facility for the children as soon as possible.
However, some of the parents who were probably not present when the decision was taken by the PTA seemed not to understand why they had to contribute for the construction of the facility.
“So if I have five children I have to pay GH¢300.00? How can some of the parents who form minority decide for those of us in majority,” one of the parents told DAILY GUIDE.
“Aside that even those who are paying are not issued with a receipt to indicate payment of the amount and for accountability,” he added.
They have therefore suggested that the school should call for another PTA meeting to deliberate on the issue again.
Headteacher
When DAILY GUIDE called the headteacher of the primary school, Solomon Nketia, he confirmed that indeed the parents have been asked to contribute the money for the said initiatives.
He explained that it was the PTA which saw the current situation of the toilet facility in the school as an eyesore and took a decision to levy the parents GH¢60.00 per child to help construct a modern toilet facility for the school.
He said the school had officially informed the District Assembly about the challenges confronting the school but had no response.
He said the PTA chairman was the one who should see to it that those who paid were issued with receipts since it was the association that took the decision.
He pleaded with the parents to bear with the school and help construct the facility since the school was in dire need of a new toilet facility and some furniture.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi