President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonou, has told all headmasters in senior high schools to apply the rule that they should not charge unapproved fees no matter the reason they may have.
He says if a school does not have, for instance, a prepaid unit or detergent, the best action the headmasters should take is to report and wait until the authorities intervene.
“It is unfortunate that we have to start the school year with interdictions. For me, the position that I hold is that if someone owns the schools, then you are working for someone, no matter how justified the reasons are, the rule states clearly that do not charge any fees in any shape or form. So you don’t charge in any shape or form, there are consequences.
“…the right thing to do is to just report that there is no unit on your prepaid and you will wait until such a time that the authorities will provide the prepaid.”
Headmasters in seven Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region have been asked to step aside for collecting unauthorized monies from candidates placed in their schools.
This is contained in directives issued by the GES to these headteachers via separate letters.
The senior high schools are; Kumasi Girls, Asanteman, Kumasi, Manso Adubia, Agric Nzema Community, Nkawie and Collins Senior High School.
“It has come to the notice of Management the collection of unauthorised monies as part of the admission process,” a letter dated December 8, 2023 to the Headmasters read.
The letter listed the unauthorised monies to include payments for; sewn anniversary cloth, House dues, sale of books, sale of calculators, and sale of anniversary cloth among others.
The Headmasters were therefore asked to hand over with immediate effect.
“Based on the above and as the code of conduct stipulates, you are to step aside for investigation to be conducted. you are hereby directed to hand over all properties of the school with effect from 8th December, 2023 to the Regional Director of Education,” the GES directed.