Authorities at the St. John�s Senior High School here have served strong notice that the school will not admit fresh students for the 2010/2011 academic year, if infrastructure is not expanded and improved.
Presently the 58-year-old school has a population of 1,313 students and classrooms meant to accommodate 35 students now take 62 whilst the dormitories are accommodating 100 students instead of 60.
The headmaster, Rev. Bro K.B Annan, issued the warning at the school�s sixth Founders Day celebration on Saturday on the theme, �Stability in education policy in Ghana, a pre-requisite for national development�.
�let it be known that for lack of infrastructure for 2010/2011 academic year and beyond, we cannot admit even a single student if no additional classroom, dormitory block and other related accommodation spaces are provided�.
The headmaster said he had presented the matter to government but nothing had been done about it. �We cannot continue to manage and be innovative, as they always want us to do, when there are so many restrictions.
�In fact, it seems imminent that heads of institutions will break down if government does nothing about this situation�. According to Rev. Bro Annan, recommendations of heads of institutions at various meetings had been treated with contempt and also made to keep quiet and do what he termed, �do before complain�.
This kind of situation, he said, could be equated to a driver who should never talk about the condition or the vehicle he drives�
Many Ghanaians, he said, did not appreciate the trying conditions under which heads of schools worked, especially, being asked to feed growing adolescents on GH�1.20 per day.
�Besides buying the food items, they have to pay for fuel to cart food items, buy gas, pay VAT, maintain cooking utensils and other kitchen ware� Rev Brother Annan told the gathering.
The challenges, had become more exacting as heads were told to run their schools based on fees fixed in 2006/2007 academic year, and asked, �has nothing changed in the past four years�?
Another example he cited was heads being given 20Gp to post students reports while postage had gone up to GH�1.00. �How is the school to make up for the difference of 80Gp when we are not charge parents any extra fees?�
The school prefect, Boniface Essel-Moses, said books at the library were obsolete and needed to be restocked. The dormitories too, needed renovation to enhance quality teaching and learning.
<<Print>>