Prior to the implementation of the free SHS policy, government set up a 22-member committee in March 2017, to make recommendations on the way forward for the programme.

“I have done a lot of work for the Ministry of Education, I haven’t taken a pesewa, they are aware. This free SHS [policy] I was on two committees – I attended all the meetings and made valuable contributions, but I did not take a pesewa and I will not take a pesewa. But anyway I will take it like that,” he said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4TckHfTgHyBi30udIcLF4xCaXb45ml5x”]Mr. Salamat made this revelation following his transfer which he considers unfair.

He was transferred from LA Presec as Headmater for making an appeal to parents of beneficiaries of the free SHS policy to pay GHc80 for the procurement of plastic chairs for their wards since the school lacked such facilities.

But his action incurred the wrath of the government, because the move was allegedly seen as a sabotage of the policy.

Speaking for the first time after his transfer on the Citi Breakfast Show today (Thursday), Mr. Salamat said his transfer was unfortunate because government did not seek his side of the story in spite of his relationship with them.

“It is unfortunate that in spite of the relationship I have with the Ministry of Education, they could not invite me and find my side of the story. I feel very hurt, very hurt.”

Mr. Salamat also believes his transfer was engineered by his haters who are occupying some vantage positions in government.

“I believe that somebody over there is using the official means to settle a score with me and the person can go on. The person knows himself or herself. The person can go on because I am very surprised about the turn of events,” he added.

Citi News gathered that Mr. Salamat, was transferred to the Curriculum Research of Development Division (CRDD) at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) in Accra from La PRESEC last week.

Initial reports said the transfer was because he had opened up to the media about the challenges of the school.

However, the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said that the transfer was because he charged parents “illegal fees” contrary to government’s instruction.

“If you are charging fees you want parents to pay, of course not, it’s not approved. We’ve given you resources and you have development levy which is contributions that were supposed to be made by parents. If you need anything, you can use part of the development levy to do that. Why do you have to go to the parents and ask them to pay something that the government has already paid? Nobody condones any behaviour or whatsoever that will punish any headmaster for talking to the media,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post I wasn’t paid a pesewa for services on free SHS c’ttee – Salamat appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the GES did not give him a fair hearing, expressing surprise at the decision to transfer him from the school.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vnFyYbZ5QXpjGsDOzzMQR4Z6IHTOwshe”]“It is unfortunate that despite the relationship I have with the Ministry of Education, they could not invite me to find my side of the story. I feel very very hurt,” he said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday.

While suggesting that someone at the Education Service was using the situation to settle a personal score with him, he lamented that, “I have done a lot of work for the Ministry of Education, and I have not taken a pesewa…. Anyway, I will take it like that… I believe that somebody over there is using the official medium to settle a score with me and the person knows himself or herself. The person can go on because I am very surprised about the turn of events.”

Citi News gathered that the headmaster of the school, Samuel Salamat, was transferred to the Curriculum Research of Development Division (CRDD) at the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) in Accra from La PRESEC last week.

Initial reports said the transfer was orchestrated by his opening up to the media about the challenges of the school, however the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said that the transfer was because he charged parents “illegal fees” contrary to government’s instruction.

But Mr. Salamat said on the Citi Breakfast Show that he did not charge parents’ fees, instead, he asked for voluntary contribution to provide classroom desks to serve the over 600 fresh students.

He noted that the school at the start of the academic year, had just about 90 desks in good shape for the Free SHS beneficiaries.

He, however said he will not protest his transfer as he believes he can still make a positive impact at his new place of work.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GES didn’t treat me well; I’m hurt – Fmr. La PRESEC head appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The school has recently been in the news for allegedly levying fresh students some amount of money to purchase plastic chairs to be used by the students due to the deplorable state of the existing ones.

The action generated public criticism with many accusing the headmaster, Samuel Salamat, of sabotaging the government’s Free SHS policy, but when Citi News visited the school on Monday morning, the situation was indeed dire.

At the first-year’s block, about nine classes were without marker boards, teachers therefore improvised, using verbal explanations.

Although school authorities declined to speak about the situation, some students who spoke to Citi News expressed their dissatisfaction and called on authorities to come to their aid.

“So as students when we came, we were expecting to see some blackboards, so that at least when there is no teacher we can try our best to learn… but when we came here, there are no desks, no blackboard, and we are just roaming about like we don’t have anything to do. We feel uncomfortable” one student said.

There were very few desks in good shape in use by students, and desks meant for one student was being shared by two students, Citi News‘ Anass Seidu observed.

One of the students commended the teachers for their efforts despite the difficulty.

He said “the teachers are putting up their best efforts to help us learn, but when it comes to the desk and the school structure, it’s very bad. When people come to the school they think it’s a village.”

The Headmaster of the school, Samuel Salamat, was last week accused of levying all new students GHs 80 threatening that those who refused to pay the money intended for the purchase of plastic chairs would be forced to stand in class.

He was subsequently interdicted by the Ghana Education Service (GES) for charging illegal fees. He failed to turn up for a meeting with the government on the matter.

The GES Director-General, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, said his outfit was still conducting investigations into the allegations against Mr Salamat.

Mr. Salamat in an earlier interview with Citi News clarified that the supposed GHs 80 levy was voluntary.

“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,” he said.

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By: Anass Seidu & Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post La Presby SHS: Students study in uncompleted buildings without boards appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 30-year-old was a free agent after parting ways with The People’s Team following their failure to gain promotion to the Premier Soccer League at the end of last season.

However, while his stint with the Cape Town outfit may not have ended with the success that either party desired, it has convinced the midfielder to stay in South Africa, with Maritzburg his next destination.

“I am very happy this has come to pass. I was with Santos last season and things worked well for us although we failed to secure promotion. I must admit that they paved way for me in South Africa and they will forever remain in my heart,” the former Fulham guardsman told Goal Ghana.

He added: “I have a new team now, and it is a privilege for me, I have signed for two years and my contract runs until the end of the 2015/2016 season.

“My aim is to help the team improve on last season’s performance. All was not well for them and that is why they have brought some new players to aid the team. I have been training with them for a few days and I have been given an assurance by the team and it looks good from the start, I am just hoping for the better.”

Maritzburg, who finished 11th in the league last season, appear to have beaten a number of clubs to the former West Ham player’s signature.

“More clubs in SA wanted to sign me on, but I personally think that I have made the right choice for my career. This is where I think I belong, and I will continue to give my all to this team in the next two years,” explained Paintsil.

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Source: Goal.com

The post John Paintsil signs for SA club Maritzburg United appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.