It was all joy for most of the first-year students, who are eager to begin their senior high education journey as they reported to their various schools on Monday, December 4, 2023.
Thousands trooped to various senior high schools in Kumasi to register.
The usual concerns of parents regarding the long list of items on the prospectus appears to have waned, following the introduction of a standardized and uniformed prospectus by the Ghana Education Service.
For most parents and guardians, the removal of some items has helped cut costs they would’ve hitherto incurred.
“The reviewed prospectus is commendable for us as parents. The items have been reduced and this means we do not have to spend much in buying everything”, Asantewaa Agyei, a parent indicated.
Another parent, Edward Nyarko stressed that “the items the schools were listing in the prospectus were taking a financial toll on us. Some included cement and even paint. This year’s own is more manageable, even though we would’ve wished items like cutlass were also removed”.
At Kumasi Secondary Technical School for instance, aside the personal belongings of students, the cleaning materials they are expected to bring have been reduced from eleven to four per head.
Out of the 1,400 students placed in the school over 600 had reported as at the close of Monday with the others expected to report by the end of the week.
At Sakafia Islamic Senior High School, most students are yet to report but parents were in to check and pick up the admission letter of their children.
Headmaster, Mohammed Shahid said academic work will begin when at least 50 percent of the 1,000 students posted to the school report for enrollment.
“We have already prepared for the students. Everything is in place for them. Some have come to assess the environment and pick up the prospectus to go and prepare and come. Others have also reported with their luggage. If we get at least 500 students to report, we will start with the orientation and academic work will follow,” he said.
But at the Kumasi Technical Institute, where a solution centre has been set up by the Ghana Education Service, to address issues regarding school placement, frustration is written on the faces of parents, guardians and their wards.
Whilst some want their school changed; others are now fighting for placement.
“All my friends have received their placements, but I have not. In fact, I am worried and praying I also get placed in a school”, a troubled student, Issaka Yussif said.
A little over one hundred thousand (100,000) students did not get placement in any school, nationwide, according to figures from the Ghana Education Service.
Nonetheless, the Ashanti Regional Coordinator of Free Senior High School programme, Owusu Brobbey says each child would be placed in a school.
“So far 61,000 out of the 100,000 have been placed at the solution centres created nationwide. Parents should exercise a little patience. Every child qualified would be placed in a school. Today being reopening day doesn’t mean admission is closed. We will be here until the last child is served”, Mr Brobbey assured parents.
The Ghana Education Service wants parents to show interest and be involved in the selection of schools for their children.