Chief Akwannuasa Gyimah, MCE for Asokwa speaking at the meeting with the head teachers of public schools in Asokwa
The Asokwa Municipal Chief Executive, Chief Akwannuasa Gyimah Tuesday morning brainstormed with head-teachers in the municipality on the new directive given to them by the Ghana Education Service (GES) on the collection of levies in schools.
Speaking to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper, the MCE noted the meeting had become urgent because some teachers had misread the circular to public schools ordering them to stop collecting monies from pupils for anything in school.
He noted the meeting would serve as a guide for him to know the grievances of the head-teachers themselves and enable him to convey their concerns to the right authorities.
Teachers, Chief Akwannuasa noted are one of the most important people in the educational ladder, adding their grievances must be given attention to enhance teaching and learning in school.
He, however, cautioned that nothing should be done to deny any pupil or student at basic or JHS level the chance to attend school.
‘’I believe the teachers grievances are important to listen to while we also ensure they do not in any way affect the teaching of our kids or wards in school because every child reserve the right to good and free education’’, the MCE noted passionately.
TEACHERS:
Speaking to this reporter, some of the head-teachers expressed frustration about the new GES directive to government schools.
They claimed that some of the aspects of education at the basic school level cannot be free because the school authorities use money to buy or attend to some of the needed things.
The printing of exam sheets or papers and the payment of utility bills as well as the provision of security for pupils at the schools, they intimated required the use of money.
They therefore wondered how the Ministry would want the schools to pay for all these when levies are not to be taken from parents.
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION:
Addressing the head-teachers later on, Martha Agyemang, Metro Director of Education urged head-teachers not to do anything to be found to be impeding the smooth implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Education (FCUBE) policy as enshrined in the constitution of the Nation.
She noted that if schools want to shore up their finances to be able to attend to the challenges they face the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) should be used to levy parents.
School children or pupils, she insisted cannot be sacked or forced to take money from their parents to pay for utilities or for printing.
She encouraged head-teachers to attend to their mandates with utmost caution knowing that anyone found to be impeding teaching and learning in the schools they head will be sanctioned by the GES.
‘’Be mindful of your mandate as head-teachers and do not try to block the smooth implementation of the FCUBE because the consequences of actions such as overcharging or levying of pupils is severe’’, Mrs Agyemang stated with firmness.
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