Delay in releasing Capitation Grant worries headteachers

Accra, Feb. 29, GNA - The delay in the release of the Capitation Grant for schools has become a source of worry to headteachers in the Accra Metropolis in efforts to procure essential items.

The situation has compelled teachers in two of such schools at La, the La Enobal "2" Junior High School and Labone Primary in Accra, to use their personal belongings such as chairs and tables at the schools in order to make work comfortable.

The Reverend Victor Adjei-Mensah, Headteacher at the Enobal "2" School said: "The situation is serious because as it is now, the law does not allow you to pre-finance anything because of the Capitation Grant."

The Circuit "28" Supervisor for La Emause Schools, Mrs Francisca Anaba, said most of the schools quite often had relied on the benevolence of individuals and organisations to carry out maintenance works.

These came to light on Friday when Nii Amasah Namoale, Member of Parliament for La Dedekotopon, handed over the refurbished La Enobal Junior High School at a cost of about 700,000 GH cedis from his share of the MP's Common/HIPC Funds. The amount included face-lifting of the Enobal School and the procurement of 50 dual-desks for the students. Before the renovation, the school block was near collapse as cracks developed on parts of the walls. Most of the furniture had also broken down beyond repair.

Nii Namoale said the next project would be to tackle the Labone Primary School adjacent to the Enobal School. The Labone Primary had parts of its roof either ripped-off or dented with parts of the walls developing cracks.