THE Conference of the Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has advised its members to put immediate stop to the collection of unapproved levies and fees from first year students.
Pending the approval of the fee review proposal sent to the government last month, CHASS said school heads should adhere strictly to the decision taken at its last conference in Kumasi, on fees for this academic year, the president.
Mr. Samuel Ofori-Adjei, president of CHASS, who was speaking to the Times, asked the heads to “accept the interim admission deposit of GH¢300 for boarders and GH¢200 for day students pending the outcome of our fee review proposals”.
He said,”this decision was taken in consultation with the management of the Ghana Education Service and it binds all heads.
Mr Ofori-Adjei was reacting to reports that some school heads are demanding between GH¢350 and GH¢900 from first year students under the pretext of preparing boarding facilities for them “because the government’s pledge to provide these facilities is yet to materialise”.
He said it was not proper for the heads to demand such monies from parents since the association did not discuss this issue at the conference.
“These heads are making the work of CHASS difficult. We would identify them and bring them to order,” he stated.
Mr. Ofori-Adjei, however, made a passionate appeal to the government to expedite action on the association’s proposals for an upward adjustment in fees for this academic year.
Some of the schools accused of collecting the illegal fees are Mfantsipim, Mamfe Methodist Girls, Achimota School and Aburi Girls.
Meanwhile, the GES has also directed that schools should collect GH¢300 and GH¢200 as admission deposit for first year boarding and day students respectively.
The acting GES Deputy Director-General, Stephen Adu, told the Times, that CHASS request for increase in fee levels for this academic year was under consideration and a decision would be taken on the proposals by the end of this week”.
Until then he said, it would be illegal for any head to collect unapproved fees.
In a related development, the Minister of Education, Alex Tetteh-Enyo has said that all schools must abide by guidelines of the GES concerning collection of fees and levies.
“All levies must first be approved by the GES, he stated.
Speaking to the Times, he said some heads of schools, had failed to comply with the directive and collected fees without prior consultation or approval.
He said monies collected so far should be kept until the necessary approval was granted for their use, adding that the government would ensure that no parent was cheated or over-burdened with such levies.
He said such levies, if approved should be spread out to give parents enough time to pay.
“We know that conditions are bad, but we must all help to solve the problem we find ourselves in now”.
Mr Tetteh-Enyo said although PTAs were supplementing the work of government by indirectly supporting their various schools to create a more conducive environment for their children to learn better, such levies should not be imposed unjustified on parents.
Pending the approval of the fee review proposal sent to the government last month, CHASS said school heads should adhere strictly to the decision taken at its last conference in Kumasi, on fees for this academic year, the president.
Mr. Samuel Ofori-Adjei, president of CHASS, who was speaking to the Times, asked the heads to “accept the interim admission deposit of GH¢300 for boarders and GH¢200 for day students pending the outcome of our fee review proposals”.
He said,”this decision was taken in consultation with the management of the Ghana Education Service and it binds all heads.
Mr Ofori-Adjei was reacting to reports that some school heads are demanding between GH¢350 and GH¢900 from first year students under the pretext of preparing boarding facilities for them “because the government’s pledge to provide these facilities is yet to materialise”.
He said it was not proper for the heads to demand such monies from parents since the association did not discuss this issue at the conference.
“These heads are making the work of CHASS difficult. We would identify them and bring them to order,” he stated.
Mr. Ofori-Adjei, however, made a passionate appeal to the government to expedite action on the association’s proposals for an upward adjustment in fees for this academic year.
Some of the schools accused of collecting the illegal fees are Mfantsipim, Mamfe Methodist Girls, Achimota School and Aburi Girls.
Meanwhile, the GES has also directed that schools should collect GH¢300 and GH¢200 as admission deposit for first year boarding and day students respectively.
The acting GES Deputy Director-General, Stephen Adu, told the Times, that CHASS request for increase in fee levels for this academic year was under consideration and a decision would be taken on the proposals by the end of this week”.
Until then he said, it would be illegal for any head to collect unapproved fees.
In a related development, the Minister of Education, Alex Tetteh-Enyo has said that all schools must abide by guidelines of the GES concerning collection of fees and levies.
“All levies must first be approved by the GES, he stated.
Speaking to the Times, he said some heads of schools, had failed to comply with the directive and collected fees without prior consultation or approval.
He said monies collected so far should be kept until the necessary approval was granted for their use, adding that the government would ensure that no parent was cheated or over-burdened with such levies.
He said such levies, if approved should be spread out to give parents enough time to pay.
“We know that conditions are bad, but we must all help to solve the problem we find ourselves in now”.
Mr Tetteh-Enyo said although PTAs were supplementing the work of government by indirectly supporting their various schools to create a more conducive environment for their children to learn better, such levies should not be imposed unjustified on parents.
