He was among the head teachers summoned by the GES for allegedly charging illegal fees under the Free SHS policy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bRpeI1xXuG5OPr4YO6dcZ7UgxImmyaEG”]Mr. Salamat, however, refused to attend the invitation to meet with the GES Director-General, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa.

The GES, without any specifics, said it was still conducting investigations into the allegations against Mr. Salamat.

First-year students who reported to the La Presbyterian School on Wednesday to complete their registration were reportedly urged to pay a GH¢80 for desks, causing some confusion at the school’s premises.

Mr. Salamat justified the fee saying the school was only asking for voluntary contributions due to the poor state of its desks.

“We have only appealed to parents that we have challenges with furniture so if they can help us repair our furniture so that we can start classes as early as possible. They cannot bring furniture from the house. We are telling them to make voluntary contributions so that we can use that to repair the furniture. It is voluntary, any amount that you can get… It is not a fixed amount. We only gave them the information that last year, parents paid GH80 to guide them.”

“If the person is unable to pay, we will still admit them… [But] if the chairs are not there, what can we do? A lot of my furniture is broken down. I have not taken stock to find out the furniture that is available. A lot of my tables and chairs are broken down and I can foresee that we will need more.”

Two heads sacked

The GES has also relieved two head teachers of their post and interdicted six others, pending investigations, for allegedly charging illegal fees under the free SHS policy.

“After our deliberations with them, we realized that they had infractions against the implementation guidelines [for the free SHS] that had been given to them,” the GES’ Director General, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa said at a press conference on Thursday.

Free SHS implementation challenges

The Free SHS policy which took off this month with only first year students is benefiting at least over 400,000.

As a result of the policy, the number of students entering has put pressure on facilities in most of the schools, with some having challenges in accommodating the huge numbers.

It appears this situation has forced some head teachers to improvise by seeking to charge some fees although everything is supposed to be free.

The policy is projected to cost the country $100 million, an equivalent of ¢400 million for the first term of the first year.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post La PRESEC head interdicted over illegal fees after ‘swerving’ GES appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

19 teachers had been invited for questioning by the GES on Thursday to respond to allegations that they were requesting parents and guardians to pay fees already absorbed by the government under its free SHS policy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WcumMLMOVRJH5iRhoIZEYuwYSkiKbbMm”]“After our deliberations with them, we realized that they had infractions against the implementation guidelines [for the free SHS] that had been given to them,” the GES’ Director General, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa said at a press conference on Thursday.

Some of the invited teachers have provided evidence that “we need to check and cross check,” Professor Opoku-Amankwa noted to the media.

The headmaster of Pentecost SHS in Koforidua, Mr. Blasu Wisdom, is one of the head teachers relieved of his post for charging illegal fees and he will also be re-posted to teach in a classroom.

The assistant headmaster of Duffor SHS, Rev. S P Elewokor, was also relieved of his post and is to be re-posted to teach in a classroom.

For failing to supervise his subordinate, the head teacher of Duffor SHS, Mr. SCK Agbakey, will be reprimanded, Professor Opoku-Amankwa said.

The headmaster of La Presbyterian School in Osu, Samuel Salamat, who notably said first-year students had to pay GH¢80 for desks or risk standing in class during teaching, has also been interdicted.

He, however, refused to attend the invitation to meet with the GES Director-General.

Free SHS implementation challenges

The Free SHS policy which took off this month with only first year students is benefiting at least over 400,000.

As a result of the policy, the number of students entering has put pressure on facilities in most of the schools, with some having challenges in accommodating the huge numbers.

It appears this situation has forced some head teachers to improvise by seeking to charge some fees although everything is supposed to be free.

The policy is projected to cost the country $100 million, an equivalent of ¢400 million for the first term of the first year.
–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Two head teachers sacked, others interdicted for charging illegal fees appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.