Government should re-introduce 30% quota admission of students -DCE

Apam, Sept. 6, GNA - The Gomoa West District Chief Executive (DCE) Mr. Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah has appealed to the Ghana Education Service to reintroduce the 30 per cent quota system for the admission of students in the locality where a senior high school is situated. Addressing a meeting of the assembly at Apam, Mr. Aidoo-Mensah said the quota system provided the opportunity to a number of children from poor homes to attend senior high schools conveniently as day students. He recalled an attempt by the previous government to de-boardinise senior high schools as a means to reduce the cost of education and offer many children access to SHS.

The DCE pointed out that the computer selection and placement programme which had made the 30 per cent quota system dysfunctional had placed a great responsibility on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to support needy children to pay their fees. Funds for infrastructural development have gone into payment of fees, he said, adding that if the quota system is not reintroduce, the assemblies would not be able to provide the needed amenities for their people.

Mr. Aidoo-Mensah suggested that the educational directorates could be made to handle the quota system admissions. He appealed to the central government, development partners and the citizenry to take immediate measure to decongest primary and junior high schools as a step to raise standards.

The DCE said the cry over poor performance of students in the Basic Education Certificate Examination would persist "if we do not provide additional classroom accommodation for the schools". "How can one teacher conveniently handle a class of 70 pupils who sit three to a dual desk, he asked.

The DCE noted that the introduction of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme, which enticed more children to school, seemed to be a curse more than a blessing, because the nation did not prepare well before introducing them. "We should have thought of teachers, accommodation and furniture for the additional intake," he said.