CHASS criticizes GES for interdicting Headteachers through social media
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has strongly criticized the Ghana Education Service over how some headteachers of Senior High Schools have been asked to step aside for charging unapproved fees from fresh students.
According to CHASS, the seven headteachers in the Ashanti region in particular as of Monday morning had not received the letters asking them to step aside, as they only saw the letters circulating on social media.
Speaking to Citi News, Zakaria Suleman Yeboah, the Ashanti regional chairman of CHASS stated that the said headmasters were also not engaged on the matter before the release of the letters.
“None of them has received any letter to that effect, they heard the news on social media and they are seriously traumatised. As we speak, they are not themselves and I believe that it wasn’t the right thing to be done,” Mr Suleman Yeboah said.
Meanwhile, CHASS has expressed worry over the allegations levelled against the 11 Senior High School headmasters across the country.
The Conference, however, stressed that it will not condone acts of charging illegal fees by its members.
Speaking exclusively to Citi News at the Ashanti regional education office after accompanying seven interdicted headmasters to a meeting, the national CHASS president, Rev. Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere noted that their engagements with the headmasters have revealed that some of the allegations are true while according to the headmasters, some are untrue.
He further noted that the recent situation has brought about a considerable level of unrest, bitterness, fear and panic in various schools.
He is thus calling on the Ghana Education Service to tamper justice with mercy in cautioning the headmasters who would be found culpable after investigations.
Rev. Father Owusu Sekyere also called on the relevant stakeholders to conduct expeditious investigations into the matter to bring finality to the issue as early as possible.
CHASS has thus strongly cautioned headmasters across the country to strictly stick to the harmonized prospectus and avoid charging fees that have not been authorized.
The national president of CHASS Rev. Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere said this will prevent similar issues from happening.
*Interdicted headteachers to appear before investigative committee today* 👇
Four out of the seven headteachers who were interdicted for allegedly charging unauthorized fees in the Ashanti Region are expected to appear before a committee set up to investigate the claims today, December 12.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) explained that the headteachers were accused of charging students various unapproved fees, including alleged payments for house dues, books and calculators, fees for the admission process, the printing of slips and files, and hymn books.
In an interview with Citi News, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Zakaria Suleman Yeboah, said the headteachers would cooperate with the Committee.
“I cannot say whether the items stated against them [the headteachers] are right or not. I have met my members, and we have spoken at length, and they have given me their side of the story, so I hope that the committee sitting will help us unravel some of the issues at stake.”
The seven headteachers in senior high schools across the Ashanti Region were asked to step aside for allegedly charging fresh students unauthorized fees.
The GES in separate statements noted that it had initiated investigations into the conduct of the headteachers.
The headteachers are Mrs. Selina Anane Afoakwa, headmistress of Kumasi Girls SHS, Mr. Nataniel Asamoah, headmaster of Asanteman SHS, Mr. Andrews Boateng, headmaster of Kumasi Senior High Technical School, and Mr. Kwadwo Obeng-Appiah, headmaster of Manso-Edubia SHS.
The rest are Mr. Daniel Boamah Duku, headmaster of the Agric Nzema Community SHS, Ms. Gladys Sarfowah, headmistress of Nkawie Senior High Technical School, and Mr. Ampong Ahmed Omar, headmaster of Collins SHS.
*CHASS demands urgent funds, furniture for Senior High Schools* 👇
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to prioritize two critical issues; funding shortages and furniture deficiencies in senior high schools across the country.
With both third-year and first-year students returning to school on January 3rd, 2024, CHASS President Rev. Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere highlighted the urgency of addressing these concerns.
He revealed widespread complaints from heads of schools in all regions, citing a lack of funding and insufficient food supplies.
“Every region is complaining about some food items and as for money issues we have been talking about it, even at our conference, our president has spoken about that extensively and it looks as if there is a problem with cash flows to our schools.
CHASS further raised the critical need for adequate furniture to accommodate the influx of students in January. Rev. Father Sekyere noted that despite repeated appeals, the issue of furniture shortages remains unresolved, potentially impacting the learning environment for students.
“I just spoke to the minister and he tells me that they are working on the disbursement of monies to our schools and he is working on furniture. I hope and pray that these things will come very soon.”
The call by CHASS comes in the wake of interdictions of 11 headteachers of Senior High Schools across the country for charging unauthorized fees.
