Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Stop charging unapproved fees — GES warns

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has warned heads of senior high schools to refrain from charging the unapproved feeding fee of GH¢2.80 currently being imposed on students.
The Head of Public Relations of the MoE, Mr Paul  Krampah, told the Junior Graphic that it had come to the notice of the ministry that the approved feeding fee of  GH¢1.80 had been increased without  approval from the ministry.
“We have written to the heads not to collect such amount of money  from parents but it looks like some heads are flouting the order. For this reason, a committee has been set up by the ministry to go into the current problem  between the MoE and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) over the feeding fees for  boarding students,” he said.
Mr Krampah said the headmasters claimed reverting to the old fees would have a serious effect on the quality of food they served to the students.
“This is simply not acceptable, as the heads are going contrary to the agreement they signed in connection with the feeding fee last year,” he said.
He explained that just last year, the feeding fee was reviewed from GH¢1.40 to the current GH¢1.80 to enable heads of schools to fulfill their desire to improve both the quality and quantity of food served to students.
 “It is, therefore, surprising that the agreement, which was for  two years and, therefore, would end next academic year, is being changed by the heads,” he noted.
 Mr Krampah, therefore, asked  parents who had already paid the GH¢2.50 to ensure that the balance was credited to their children next academic year.
In separate interviews with some headmasters and headmistresses who wanted to remain anonymous, they  explained that  the current amount being charged was woefully inadequate.
“As you know, we are dealing with teenagers who are very active and, therefore,  eat a lot and this same GH¢1.80 is for breakfast, lunch and supper,” they lamented.

No comments:

Post a Comment