Some of the students at Koforidua Pope John’s SHS
SOME HEADMASTERS and mistresses of some senior high schools in the Eastern Region are reportedly using tricky means to “scuttle the government’s free senior high school (SHS) policy” by taking unapproved fees from parents before admitting the first-year students.
DAILY GUIDE sources claimed that some of the heads, through some of the teachers in schools such as, Mamfe Methodist Girls, Suhum Technical Senior School, Suhum Islamic Girls, Akwamuman Senior High, Anum – Boso Senior High, Koforidua GHANASS, Pope John’s, Adukrom Technical and Pentecost Senior High, were collecting ‘backstage’ moneys from the parents by way of ‘protocol.’
The heads of the above-mentioned schools were allegedly demanding unapproved fees from parents in the guise of using the moneys for infrastructural projects and text books, among others, which is not in line with the Ghana Education Service directives.
At Mamfe Methodist Girls’ Senior High School, parents and guardians who besieged there to seek registrations for their children and wards on Tuesday became stranded and vented their anger at the school authorities for allegedly demanding money from them before registering the students.
Scores of the parents, after being in a long queue, spoke to this paper expressing worry about the situation. They asserted that they came on Monday and were given numbers for roll call and that on Tuesday, the headmistress came to inform them that the students she had admitted had exceeded the required number and so she couldn’t admit any more.
Some alleged that the headmistress, through some teachers, was demanding cash behind the scenes before the registration.
The conduct of some of the school heads, which went viral on social media platforms after some parents had begun calling in local radio stations, prompted the Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, to rush to the school to verify the situation.
Over 400 students were turned away by authorities at the Mamfe Methodist Girls’ Senior High School, claiming that the school has the capacity to accommodate only 400 students. Over 800 students were posted to the school by the Computer School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).
Explaining, the headmistress of the school, Silvia Issabela Laryea, said the school has limited dormitories to admit all the students.
According to her, a dormitory that was started last year was abandoned by the immediate past National Democratic Congress (NDC) government at the foundation level and so it was yet to be completed.
Mr Eric Kwakye Daffour cautioned the headmasters and mistresses of the various schools to be professional in discharging their duties in order not to create inconveniences to parents and the students throughout the registration process.
President Akufo-Addo yesterday launched the government’s Free Senior High School as its implementation began throughout the country.
A total of over 400,000 students are expected to benefit from the policy.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua