The First-Year Students Reporting To School Just For Three Weeks Without Any Serious Academic Work Is Not Only An Ill Thought But A Financial Burden To Parents

In recent times, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, through the Ghana Education Service (GES), has come under scrutiny for its handling of the educational system, particularly regarding the abrupt changes in the academic calendar that have left parents and students In an endless state of confusion and frustration.

Aside from the infamous double track system which affects students learning, one glaring instance of insensitivity towards the plight of parents is the directive given to first-year students to report to school in December, only to be asked to return home within a few weeks without any serious academic work. What was the essence of asking the students to report to school if they were to be sent home in less than three weeks without learning anything?

Parents eagerly sent their children off to school, expecting them to embark on a continuous learning journey. However, the sudden decision to send these first-year students back home after just two or three weeks has left many questioning the rationale behind such a move. This unexpected disruption not only affects the students but also places an undue burden on parents who have made preparations for their children's extended stay at school. Did the government just want to prove a point, punish parents and their wards, or it was another ill-thought?

The financial implications of the laconic closure of schools within this short time are a cause for concern among parents. Many had invested in school supplies, uniforms, and other necessities for their children, anticipating a longer duration of schooling. The unnecessary holiday granted to these students has left these parents grappling with financial losses, adding an extra layer of stress during an already challenging time. Everyone knows about the current economic hardship in the country and how economically unwise it is to send kids to school and have them come back home within a shorter period after money had been spent on paying their fees, buying provisions, and paying lorry fares for them to go to school only for them to be sent back home without doing anything in school. Why couldn't the government allow these first-year students to stay at home and report to school after the festivities?

Again, take for instance, a parent in Accra who had to pay a lorry fare of about GHC 560.00 to send his or her two kids to schools located far away in the Upper West region. Such a parent must pay the same amount for the kids to go back home within that shorter period the kids had gone to school. This means that within the shortest period of two or three weeks, an amount of about GHC 1,120 will be spent by the parent and as school is about to resume, the parent will have to look for money and send the kids to school again. Isn't all this a burden on poor parents? Therefore, why didn't the government allow the students to just report to school in January to save parents from all these troubles? I don't think the NPP government is bent on tormenting these poor parents in this period of economic turbulence.

The inconsistency in the academic calendar can have a detrimental effect on students' academic progress and emotional well-being. Adjusting to the back-and-forth movement between home and school disrupts the learning process and hinders the development of a stable routine, which is crucial for effective education. Also, many of our roads are deplorable and death traps and can cause parents to lose their kids to road accidents. Perish the thought though! The government should therefore be sensitive enough to parents and their kids when making certain decisions.

One of the major criticisms directed towards the government and the GES is the lack of effective communication regarding these decisions. The sudden shift in directives without clear explanations or adequate notice demonstrates a lack of transparency, leaving parents and students feeling betrayed and disregarded. Did the government communicate the purpose of asking the first-year students to report to school in such a manner to parents? At least, some parents would have understood why the government did what it did and they would have known how to prepare for the unforeseen events.

The NPP government and the GES must adopt a more comprehensive and considerate approach to educational planning. Sensitivity to the economic realities of parents, effective communication, and a commitment to sustaining a stable academic calendar are crucial components of a successful education system. In the absence of the above-mentioned components, the educational system will soon collapse due to a lack of patronage by poor parents. As for the free senior high school education, the less said about it, the better. The government has silently brought back the school fees payment system which they promised to replace with free education. The policy has become a fiasco now.

In conclusion, the NPP government, through the Ghana Education Service, must address the concerns of parents and students affected by the abrupt changes in the academic calendar. An empathetic and strategic approach is necessary to ensure that the educational system serves the best interests of both students and parents, fostering an environment conducive to learning and development.

The writer is a concerned parent