MPs complain behaviour of Heads of Public schools during admissions

Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - Members of Parliament on Friday expressed various concerns about the behaviour of some Heads of public Senior Secondary Schools during the admission of students into secondary schools.

Dr William Boakye Akoto, NPP-Birim North made the statement in Parliament saying it has been prompted by a common experience by many parents in the country annually in their attempt to secure quality education for their children.

He said the attitude of some heads of schools especially those from the "so-called First Schools" who mysteriously disappear from their campuses only to appear after they have compiled a list of students to be admitted into their schools.

Dr Akoto said this behaviour has been institutionalised and needs to be critically examined against the expected role of the heads to be promoters of knowledge, skills, leadership and moral values in the society.

He said the common excuse for "festival of disappearance" during the period by the heads is that they come under so much pressure from parents who want admission for their children to the extent that the Heads have to go into hiding.

The Member said the disappearance of the Heads affects work that must be done before school re-opens each year because important decisions sometimes unrelated to admissions are deferred till the Heads are back.

Dr Akoto said the practice has also tainted the image of many Heads because of a general perception that they are influenced through bribery by the rich, who desirous of getting their less qualified children admitted into good schools.

Dr Akoto said it is high time a high level of transparency is introduced into the process of admission into senior secondary schools in conformity with the Government's policy of "zero tolerance for corruption" in all spheres of lives.

Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Development said most often, some parents tend to try to influence the Heads even when they have not chosen the schools nor are the students qualified. He said the call for a debate on the issue for a very laudable idea and that Government's decision to upgrade some schools would make available enough "Special schools" for parents to seek admission for their wards.

Mr Joe Gidisu, NDC-North Tongu said the problem has become institutionalised and so its solution should be institutionalised politically and socially for the benefit of those concerned. He said the imbalance in the educational system is real because the number of students who pass their examinations outnumber the number of school and that creates the panic and scramble for good schools. Mr Gidisu said it is necessary to look at improving the less endowed schools with the necessary infrastructure and take concrete steps to provide them with the needed facilities to ensure effective teaching and learning.

Prof. Dominic Kwaku Fobih, Minister of Lands and Forestry said the ritual of rushing to seek admission into "special schools" occurs because all parents wish to enrol their wards into good schools. He said social pressures on the Heads creates influences and that Government's scheme to expand existing facilities of the less endowed schools into model schools would help address the situation in the not distant future.

Mr Modestus Ahiable, NDC-Ketu North, said the behaviour of the heads was natural and quoted the Bible that in times of pressure one needs to "disappear" to seek a respite.

He said most often Heads of schools go through both social and political pressures that they have to comply with or else face the wrath of the "big men at the top"

He said the government should train more teachers and equip especially the community schools and not only the proposed 110 selected schools so that there would be enough schools to absorb the numerous students.

Mr Joe Donkor, Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports said the situation has not got the official response of the Ministry and suggested that the school be given quotas on admission in terms of those who have qualified so as to check the pressures on admission of students into senior secondary schools.