Gomoa Central MP Settles Fees 55 Second-Year Students Of Gyaman SHS

Gomoa Gyaman, (CR), Sept 21, GNA - Mrs Naana Eyiah Quansah, Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, has paid 76 Ghana Cedis each of fifty-five (55) second year students of the Gomoa Gyaman Community Senior High School (SHS).

The move is to reduce the financial burden on their parents, she said.

According to the MP the 4,180 Ghana Cedis financial assistance was raised from Ghanaian residents in the United State of America (USA) to support the brilliant but needy students to pursue further education.

Addressing Chiefs, Students, Parents, Party Executives and some residents of Gomoa Gyaman, Mrs Naana Eyiah said she realized that the payment of fees of continuing students had become a problem to parents due to financial constraints.

She said it was pathetic to see students being sent home for non- payment of school fees, which disturbed and undermined their studies.

The MP urged parents and guardians to see the government's Free SHS policy as the greatest assistance to them to aid them to enrol their children.

Mr Robert Mensah, Gomoa East District Director of Education, said the payment of the fees by the MP has come at the right time, since majority of the students had not paid their fees.

He said the 600 continuing students had not paid their fees and this made it extremely difficult for the authorities of the Gomoa Gyaman SHS to run the School.

On the Free SHS Policy, the Director of Education said, a total of 1,032 students were placed in the School by the Computer School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

He assured the parents and chiefs that everything possible would be done to ensure that those sent were admitted to enhance quality teaching and learning.

Mr Mensah praised the government for the Free SHS policy, saying many parents could not afford to pay fees for their children, but this has brought great relieve to parents and the little money they have would be used to purchase other items for the usage of their children in school.

The Director of Education hinted that last year's final year student of T. I. Alhamddiyya Senior High School at Gomoa Potsin left GH¢ 600,000 as unpaid fee for the School.

He said the situation has slowed down the School's management, adding that the free SHS policy has removed huge burden form headmasters and headmistresses who faced the irregular payment of School fees.

Mr Benjamin Kojo Otoo, Gomoa East District Chief Executive (DCE) admonished headteachers to desist from acts that would undermine the Free SHS policy that the government had introduced to alleviate the suffering of the Ghanaian parents.

He said the Engineering Department of Gomoa East Assembly has been tasked to fast track designs to help the assembly to provide temporal structures to accommodate the students.

The DCE said the Policy, which was described by some educationists and economists as one of the greatest social intervention given to Ghanaians, should be supported to succeed.

Ms Josephine Brown, Assistant Headmistress of the School took the MP and DCE round to inspect on-going developments in the school including the administrative block which had been stalled due to financial constraints.

The Headmistress assured the MP and DCE that all students who have accepted their postings to the School have been admitted, adding that those living close to Gomoa Potsin and beyond had been offered day status, while those from 15 miles and beyound have been offered boarding to reduce the risk of commuting to and from school.