Accessing Funds From Capitation Grant Should Be Transparent -Onyinah

Obuasi (Ash), Oct.11, GNA - Mr Joseph K. Onyinah, Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, has called for transparency in the drawing of School Performance Improvement Plans (SPIPs) that would be used by headteachers to access funds from the Capitation grant. This, he said would promote the effective utilization of the grant in schools.

Mr Onyinah, who was speaking on the grant at a public education programme on SHAFT FM, a local radio station at Obuasi, stressed the need for stakeholders in education to play their roles well to ensure the judicious use of the grants.

He said headteachers held the important key to the use of the grant and therefore, advised them to involve their teachers and the School Management Committees (SMCs) in the drawing of their school plans.

The Municipal Director urged headteachers to have a better understanding of the policy guiding the grant so that they could educate other stakeholders on it.

"Headteachers should understand the policy governing the capitation grant so that they can painstakingly explain to stakeholders to let them know their respective roles and responsibilities", Mr Onyinah stressed.

He appealed to parents not to hide behind the grant to relegate their responsibilities towards the education of their children and wards to the background.

Mr Onyinah advised teachers not to make studies outside the normal school hours compulsory, stressing, "they should not make studies fees a stumbling block to the child's acquisition of basic education". He stressed that "it will be criminal to drive pupils away from classes for non-payment of studies fees." Mr Onyinah called for teamwork among stakeholders to ensure that children had access to quality basic education.