INFORMATION reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that about 292 teacher trainees of the Koforidua Asokore SDA College of Education in the Eastern regional capital are in limbo over their status following their exclusion from the disbursement of feeding grants released by government for onward refund to the trainees.
DAILY GUIDE’s investigations confirmed that the affected students were those who were transferred from Asante-Agona SDA College of Education to Asokore SDA College of Education in 2013 when the institution (Agona SDA College) failed to secure accreditation from the National Accreditation Board as anticipated at the time of admission.
The affected students were made to apply for admission at a sister institution, the Asokore SDA College, and were subsequently granted admission as students of the college.
However, due to accommodation challenges, the Agona College campus became their satellite campus but the students partook in all academic activities of Asokore SDA College of Education and even have the institution’s student identification card and uniform.
DAILY GUIDE’s investigations also confirmed that the management of the college has refused to refund the accumulated feeding grants of at least GH¢2,600 to each of the affected students, claiming the students are not qualified for the grants due to circumstances that led to their admission.
The affected trainee teachers, who are currently posted to some parts of the Eastern Region to undertake their teaching practice to complete their training next month, are in a dilemma as to the validity of their studentship and entitlement to the financial benefit (grant).
Some of the trainee teachers, who spoke on condition of anonymity to DAILY GUIDE for fear of being victimised, hinted that the principals of the SDA College of Education in both Koforidua Asokore and Asante-Agona had failed to answer legitimate questions with regard to their status and financial benefits.
. DAILY GUIDE learnt that last month government released GH¢62.7 million through the Ghana Education Trust Fund to be disbursed to over 48,000 teacher trainees across the country.
But the affected students have been told by the principal of Koforidua Asokore SDA College of Education that they are not beneficiaries.
The affected trainees believe they are being short-changed and fear they may suffer similar injustice with regard to their postings and financial benefits after completing school.
The angry students are therefore calling on the Ministry of Education to come to their aid to resolve the problem.
The Principal of Asokore SDA College of Education, Mrs Rose Kakira, declined comment on the matter when contacted by DAILY GUIDE via telephone.
Meanwhile, a Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as gathered, has officially been informed about the situation of the students but is yet to respond.
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