Ministry vows to be ruthless with erring school heads

The Ministry of Education has warned that it would deal decisively with Heads of Senior High Schools (SHS), who disregarded its directive not to burden parents with unapproved fees.

Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the Minister, said any such erring school head, would be appropriately sanctioned.

She gave the warning in a speech read for her, by the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Sarfo Kantanka, at the Sixtieth Anniversary Celebration of the Collins SHS at Agogo in the Asante-Akim North District.

“Sixty Years Of Quality Education, Prospects, Challenges And The Way Forward – The Role Of Stakeholders,” was the theme for the occasion, which was used to reward hard working students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the school.

Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang spoke of the government’s determination to ensure that no Ghanaian child was denied the opportunity to pursue an academic career.

That, she noted that, was the way forward to assure the nation of a better and prosperous future.

The Minister said it was for this reason that under the secondary school improvement project, and the global partnership for education, students from poor homes in deprived districts would be awarded scholarships to access SHS education.

The Reverend Isaac Osei Boadi, the Headmaster, described the academic performance of the school as impressive.

It has since year 2009, been scoring 100 per cent passes in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

He said they were, however, having challenges, and complained of the lack of computer and science laboratories, transport, inadequate classrooms and residential accommodation for teachers.

The school, established in 1954 with 19 students, now has a student-population of 2,175, made up of 1,064 boys and 1,111 girls.