Community schools can be absorbed into the public system- Minister

Accra, July 2, GNA - Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education on Thursday said private schools, which want to be absorbed into the public education system must fulfil a number of conditions before they would be considered.

Mr Tettey-Enyo was responding to a question on the floor of the House asked by Rev Benjamin B. Donkor, Member of Parliament for Hemang Lower Denkyira, who wanted to know when the Twifo-Hemang Technical School would be fully absorbed into the public system. The Minister said schools that would immersed into the public system must be registered by the Director of Education in the region where the school is located and must be issued with a provisional certificate bearing the date of registration as well as the registration number, which is unique to each school.

The school should show evidence that it can enrol at least 80 (i.e. two streams) of Senior High School (SHS) form one students annually, the buildings of the school should not be in a rented premises or be in temporary structures, must have lands vast enough for future expansion and land documents such as the deed of conveyance, site plan and indenture among other requirements must be available. Additionally, the school must have an adequate drainage system, effective rubbish disposal system, facilities for storing water and alternative power supply.

He assured that the Twifo-Hemang Technical School would be considered and taken through the conditions when they apply for absorption.

Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, MP for Evalue Gwira also asked the Minister whether the Ministry has any plans to establish SHS at Gwira since there is a high number of Junior High School graduates in that part of the constituency.

The Minister said it has not been the practice of the Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to establish SHSs and that it is normally the communities or individual who take the initiative of starting SHS after which they apply for absorption into the public system.

"However, the Ministry and the GES is reviewing the policy on the establishment of second cycle institutions in the country and that the emphasis is now on technical/vocational schools." Mr Tettey-Enyo said as part of the review the Ministry and the GES would consult with the appropriate authorities on the siting of second cycle schools.

He said Gwira would be considered for the establishment of a second cycle school when the Ministry and GES decide on the type of school that is appropriate for the area.