The Ministry argues that the failure of the Heads to submit the relevant data to the ministry for the payment of the grants is to blame for the accumulation of the arrears.

Government is yet to pay the feeding grant the schools for the last two terms but a Deputy Minister of Education in charge of pre-tertiary education, Alex Kyeremeh told Citi News, the processes before the grants are released demanded that the heads of schools, submit the documentation for payment as soon as possible.

“When the headquarters receive [the documents] from the regions, they have to do the audit to make sure that it conforms to the actual number of students in the school. They have their own way of checking before they send it to the Ministry of Finance before it goes to the auditor general also to do due diligence.”

He admitted that the processes involved for the payment of grants may result in an academic term’s delay however Head teachers’ delay in submitted the necessary files for their payment is to blame for the compounding arrears.

“The problem is not even not at times with Ghana Education Service or the units of finance but as a result of the inaction of some of the heads. They delay so much in sending the inputs to the Ghana Education Service Headquarters. They will agree with me that it is based on their inputs that we will be able to determine they are supposed to pay to the schools,” he said.

The Headmaster of the Tamale Senior High School (TAMASCO) at the school’s 65th Anniversary celebration, lamented “Feeding grants have not been forthcoming and for two terms schools in the three regions of the north have not received feeding grants.”

Shaibu Adams Wilberforce in his capacity as leader of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) thereby made a passionate appeal to government to immediately reimburse the schools management to prevent any temporary closure.

‘Upper East schools yet to receive feeding grant’

Head teachers of some second cycle schools in the region had told Citi News off record that government has not paid any of the feeding grant arrears for the second and third terms of the 2015/2016 academic year.

They said even though they have been asked to re-open schools for the 2016/2017 academic year, it would be difficult to feed the students.

Government’s delay in releasing the feeding grants initially forced the closure of many public schools in the three Northern regions in June.

Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Blame headteachers for feeding grant delays – Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the headmaster, Shaibu Adams Wilberforce, Tamasco is among second cycle institutions in the three regions of the north yet to receive feeding grant for the past two academic terms.

“Feeding grants have not been forthcoming and for two terms schools in the three regions of the north have not received feeding grants.”

Shaibu Adams Wilberforce in his capacity as leader of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) thereby made a passionate appeal to government to immediately reimburse the schools management to prevent any temporary closure.

“I am making an appeal as leader of all school heads in the north to President Mahama to do something about the situation. I hope by next week we will see something because we seriously need money.”

He complained about wanton encroachment on the school land which has kept the students and staff under siege.

The Tamasco headmaster also decried armed robbery activities on campus which he considered as a human security threat.

He revealed that an abandoned bungalow used in the past as the regional Director of education’s residence is the armed robbers’ hideout.

Shaibu Adams Wilberforce said the school lacked staff bungalows and described the existing ones as death traps.

The theme for Tamasco’s 65th Anniversary and 22nd Speech and Prize Giving Day celebration is “Sixty five years of Tamasco: a legacy of educational excellence built on the foundation of Fortiter, Fideliter and Feliciter.”

The Guest speaker, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Nashiru Issahaku proposed that his alma mater’s speech and prize giving day should be celebrated annually.

He also recommended the development of a strategic plan to enable the old students realize the need to jealously contribute their quota to solve the school’s myriad challenges.

Dr. Nashiru Issahaku challenged the continuing students to place premium on their studies and be disciplined at all times.

Bawumia’s donations
As an old student, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s thrice vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia donated an ambulance to the school.

Ahead of the event, he made a cash donation of Ghc50,000 cedis for the renovation of the school’s old Assembly Hall.
He earlier gave Ghc15,000 cash for the refurbishment of his former Weimah house which he was the prefect.

Dr. Bawumia also presented sporting equipment to the school’s sports department.

Tamasco was established in 1951 as a government boys school and later named as Gbewaa Boys School and now Tamale Senior High School (Tamasco).

It has so far produced celebrated scholars and business men including the late former vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the late Philanthropist medical doctor, David Abdulai Choggu, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air vice Marshal Samson Michael-Oje, Justice Williams Atuguba, Professor Abdulai Salifu and Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners, Ibrahim Mahama.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana.com

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