Free SHS: We got approval from GES to charge levy – PTA defends sacked headteacher

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Pentecost Senior High School (SHS) in Koforidua in the Eastern region, has mounted defence for their dismissed headteacher, Wisdom Blazu.

According to the PTA Chairman, Nicholas Folie Mensah, the school sought clearance from the Ghana Education Service (GES) before levying the students.

Mr. Blazu together with an Assistant headteacher at Daffour Senior High School, Rev S.P Eleworkor were relieved of their posts by the GES for defying government’s Free SHS policy by charging illegal fees from students.

They are to be demoted and reassigned back to the classroom to teach. Nine others were interdicted, Director General of GES, Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwaah announced at a press conference last week.

Speaking Monday on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, however, Folie Mensah said the school acted upon a letter of approval they received from the GES in January well as an assurance by a GES representative to levy the students for the 2017/18 academic year.

“A letter was sent to the GES and they approved [GH¢40]” while a District Director also told them at a Board meeting that “the GH¢40 that we are taking, we can continue,” the PTA Chairman explained.

Meanwhile, private legal practitioner, Yaw Oppong has faulted the Ghana Education Service after it sacked two the headteachers.

Speaking on Newsfile on Joy FM/MultiTV's JOYNEWS channel over the weekend, the law lecturer with the Central University argued that the decision by the GES Council to sack two school heads and interdicting nine others, may have breached GES Act 506.

He said Act 506 requires that a disciplinary committee is set up to deal with allegations of wrongdoing.

"There is no evidence that the Disciplinary Committee invited these people to be charged...and given adequate opportunity to be heard," he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | Email: [email protected], Twitter: @jerrymordy