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IF FUNDS are not released to second-cycle institutions by September 15, 2014 the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has indicated strongly that it will be difficult for the schools to reopen for the 2014/2015 academic year. The situation, according the conference, has assumed an alarming proportion that the heads will take a definite decision on whether or not to withhold or postpone the reopening of senior high schools at its annual conference on September 6. The president of CHASS, Samuel Ofori-Adjei, who doubles as the headmaster of Accra Academy, said the school owes the Ghana Water Company almost GH�50,000.00 and is under pressure to settle its debts due to the delays in the release of subsidies. �As I speak with you, I am supposed to meet with the area manager of Ghana Water Company because we owe them thousands of Ghana cedis by way of water supply to the school. I must meet him to arrange payment modalities because there is a directive to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to settle our arrears in full,� he pointed out. Speaking to the DAILY HERITAGE in an interview, he said as the national president, there is a lot of pressure on him from members to help them settle outstanding debts owed organisations and individuals. Mr. Ofori-Adjei observed that they anticipated that the subsidy would come at the end of every term; most heads thus, used monies at their disposal for other activities against their expectation for the subsidies. He said the subsidies which are meant for certain vital financial administration has not been paid in full. The CHASS President stressed that it would be very difficult for some schools to reopen without the subsidies. He said there are few schools that have other internally generated funds they depend on, but, that is not sustainable. He said schools that run on pre-paid meters are under undue pressure to always find money to purchase power. He described as unfortunate calls that they are taking government to ransom. He said the subsidies are used for utilities, maintenance of office equipment, sponsorship of sporting activities, sanitation, and first aid among others. He added that those in technical institutions use a component of the subsidy to address their needs. He said without the subsidy a gap is created in their financial administration. According to him, the 2013/2014 academic year has not been favourable as they received the first tranche in July. He explained that they still have two outstanding tranches representing the second and third terms. �We are pleading that before we begin the next academic year by 15th September, the subsidies should be released to the secondary schools to clear all outstanding debts.�