Corrupt Practices in Schools in Ga South Municipal Assembly

Education as they say is the key to success seems to be true to everyone who understands education. Since the advent of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE), Primary and secondary education has been free and compulsory in Ghana between the ages of 6 and 14. The introduction of the capitation grant coupled with the feeding grant or programme, has also escalated enrolment figures in public schools. Children of school going age are now enrolled in school.

However, before a child is offered admission into a public school, he or she must go through an admission process which included - entrance examination. When a child had finally passed the entrance examination to the class of his or her choice, he or she is offered admission. The admission offered is supposed to be free in compliance with the introduction of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education. But admission into public basic schools in Ghana is not free as headteachers charge exorbitant fees before offering admission to the economically disadvantaged children.

Headteachers in the Ga South Municipality cannot be left out of this. They demand huge amount of money from parents and guardians before offering admission to their wards. This is my estimation is crime against humanity as some children who should be in school are deprived the right to education simply because they could not meet the financial demand of a headteacher. This and other activities of headteachers in the Ga South Municipal Assembly are a threat to the success of the free education programme introduced by the government of Ghana. They use all tactics possible to exploit money from parents and guardians who seek admission in the public school for their wards. This in a way is making them rich at the beginning of every academic year.

However, in an interview with some teachers in the Ga South Municipality, it was revealed that some headteachers without any authorization by the Municipal Education Directorate, charge exorbitant levies at the beginning of every academic year in the name of school building. These levies when collected from parents and guardians of wards are not used for the intended purpose and also not accounted for by them. For instance, some headteachers in the Gbawe Circuit of the Ga South Municipal Assembly charge building levies for which there is no building project underway currently. This is not proper and such headteachers who do that should be dealt with. They need to be sponge out of the teaching profession for their involvement in such corrupt practices as such unscrupulous activities hamper the development of education in the country at large.

Again, a parent who had gone to seek admission for her ward in the Gbawe cluster of schools in the ga south municipal assembly when contacted revealed that she had been told by a teacher to pay an amount of GH₵40.OO cash in order to have her ward admitted to the school. This amount in question excluded learning materials that the child may use in the classroom to enhance his or her learning.

However, it is very shocking and disturbing to know also that some headteachers and teachers false books and other stationary on the children to buy. Failure to purchase such books or stationary from them amount to punishment or dismissal from the school. This unscrupulous behaviour of these teachers is affecting children and parents as children are sent home for not purchasing books or stationary from the school.

I therefore charge, authorities in charge of education to be up and doing to check these unscrupulous activities of headteachers in the Ga South Municipality and also in the nation at large.

Jude Ofei
0243174600