Ministry To Sanction Heads Who Impose Unapproved Fees

The Minister for Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has given an assurance that the ministry will continue to ensure that all heads of senior high schools (SHS) will not charge unapproved fees until the full implementation of free SHS education policy. Answering questions in Parliament last Thursday, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang explained that following measures instituted to check charging of unapproved fees, the number of complaints had drastically reduced since the beginning of this academic year. The Member of Parliament for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Kwasi Adusei, asked what steps were being taken by the ministry to restrain heads of senior high schools from charging unapproved fees. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang further explained that the ministry had maintained its policy to ensure access to quality education and had over the years sustained efforts to overcome any obstacle that may work against such policies. Standardised fees She said a committee had been established to standardise the charging of fees in all schools in the country and that heads of schools and the general public had been notified of the approved fees. According to the minister, the approved fees to be charged by heads in the 2014/15 academic year had been circulated to all major stakeholders, including the heads, in a letter dated September 2, 2014 and further placed on the ministry�s website for the public to access. Throwing light on the approved fees for SHS One students, she indicated that both boys and girls in the boarding house would pay GH�359.00 as miscellaneous while day students pay GH�48.00. Uniforms Uniform and clothing is pegged at GH�175 for all categories, with approved teaching and learning support fees at GH�97.5 for all. PTA levies are pegged at GH�37.00 for those in the boarding house and GH�35 for day students. The minister said that translated into GH�668.5 for students in boarding schools and GH�355.5 for day students. For continuing students, (SHS 2 & 3), fees payable per term are pegged at GH�348 as miscellaneous for boarding students and GH�38 for day students, with PTA at GH�37 and GH�35, respectively, for boarding and day students, making it GH�385 for boarding students and GH�73 for day students respectively. Complaints Unit Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the ministry had also established a complaints unit to receive concerns regarding unapproved fees. Metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives have also been tasked to use the District Education Oversight Committees to assist in monitoring and supervision. Earlier in an answer to a question by the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, on the completion of the three-storey staff quarters at Jachie/Pramso SHS, she said the project delayed because of lack of funds but it would be completed by June 2015. As to when the Atwima Kwanwoma SHS would be provided with a school bus, as asked by the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the school would be considered along with others in the next phase of the programme, which is expected to begin by the middle of next year.