Minority MP for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has sympathised with parents of SHS students who are experiencing difficulties in preparing their wards for school.
Various stakeholders, including parents have lamented over the December 4, 2023 re-opening date announced by the Ghana Education Service.
Addressing the Issue in Parliament on December 4, he said, “Parents require not less than GHC3,000 to prepare their wards to school.”
Mr Muntaka cited the frustration of teachers who say they have not caught a break since the inception of the double track system. He expressed concern about there being no consultation in the process of adjusting the academic calendar for Senior high schools.
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa agreed with his colleague and said that, even if the Minister of Education disagreed with the Speaker’s directive, he should not have issued a counter statement since that amounted to disrespect for Parliament.
Their submissions were made on the floor of Parliament when the Education Minister was summoned before the House to address the many concerns about the SHS placement exercise and the re-opening date for first year students.
Parliament earlier requested that the Minister of Education reconsidered the reopening date, suggesting the first week of January, 2024, since according to the academic calendar, SHSs will break from December 21, 2023 to resume on January 3, 2024.
In a statement, the Parliamentary Service suggested a postponement of the SHS re-opening date to January 3 based on concerns that the notice to students, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff was inconvenient.
That notwithstanding, the Ghana Education Service issued a statement on Saturday, December 2 urging schools to re-open and begin registration of students on December 4.
By Nancy Vukania