Regulate SHS PTA dues to save Free SHS policy – EduWatch to GES
Education think tank – Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) has called on the management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to regulate the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues of various government Senior High Schools.
The Executive Director of EduWatch, Kofi Asare in a social media post sighted by Thisterm.com said the government second cycle schools PTA dues if not regulated will destroy the flagship Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
He also suggested that the Ghana Education Service (GES) restrict the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues to max of 10 days minimum wage by encouraging the old boys and girls of Senior High Schools to support infrastructure.
“Ghana Education Service, if you do not regulate PTA dues, it will destroy the Free Senior High School Policy. Restrict PTA dues to a max of 10 days minimum wage and encourage the old boys & girls to support infrastructure,” Asare said.
Meanwhile, an official of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has said teachers have been exempted from the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), in an interview the GES official said the Association is now called Parent Association (PA).
In a related development, the Ghana Education Service has interdicted over ten headteachers of some Senior High Schools for allegedly charging first-year students of their school unauthorized fees before offering them admission.
In a statement shared with Thisterm.com, the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the auspices of the Ministry of Education (MoE) said has it initiated comprehensive investigations into the conduct of these headteachers.
The affected headteachers are Selina Anane Afoakwa, Headmistress of Kumasi Girls SHS, Nataniel Asamoah, Headmaster of Asanteman SHS, Andrews Boateng, Headmaster of Kumasi Senior High Technical School, Kwadwo Obeng-Appiah, Headmaster of Manso-Edubia SHS, Daniel Boamah Duku,
Others are Headmaster of the Agric Nzema Community SHS, Gladys Sarfowah, Headmistress of Nkawie Senior High Technical School, Ampong Ahmed Omar, Headmaster of Collins SHS, Afi Yaw Stephen, Headmaster of Berekum Senior High School, and Joseph Jilinjeh Abudu, Headmaster of Odomaseman Senior High School.
Additionally, the headteachers of O’Reilly Senior High School and Ghana Senior High School, Nadia Lartechoe Annan and Patience Naki Mensah, respectively, are also part of the interdicted group of headteachers under investigation.
The Ghana Education Service has accused these headteachers of charging students various unapproved fees, including house dues, books, calculators, admission process fees, and charges for the printing of slips, files, and hymn books.