Coronavirus: Private schools petition government for support

Correspondence Western Region:

The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPs) has petitioned the Akufo-Addo-led government to support the various private schools in the country following the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

President Akufo-Addo in the wake of the virus issued a directive to both public and private schools to close down indefinitely.

However, after adhering to the President's directive, the council through its Research Department has reviewed that the closure is giving them problem.

This was disclosed in a petition signed by the Council National Executive Director, Mr Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah and sighted by Daniel Kaku.

Mr. Gyetuah commended the operators of all private schools in the country for adhering to the directive issued by President Akufo-Addo to prevent the Coronavirus spread and infect students.

He, therefore by this petition appealed to government to suspend them from paying SSNIT and GRA contributions and support them with loans at reasonable rates.

Read below the full petition

PRIVATE SCHOOLS COUNCIL PETITIONS GOVERNMENT ON KEY CHALLENGES, AS SCHOOLS ARE CLOSE DOWN AS DIRECTED

The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), in compliance with the Presidential directives following the outbreak of COVID 19 in the country, all schools including private schools which we represent, have closed down.

The Council, having directed private schools to adhere to the school closure directives, would like to show our appreciation to all private school operators and managers, for the bold decision taken to stem the tide of this pandemic, as we re-assure all private schools of the council’s full support.

The Research Directorate of the council has reviewed that, the closure of schools, which we support, has also impacted negatively on the finances of private schools whose income are dependent on fee payments by parents and loans from the financial institutions.

As most parents were unable to settle the full fees before the closure, private schools now face challenges in meeting their financial obligations to the over 400,000 employees in terms of salaries, payment of SSNIT contributions, GRA contributions and loan repayments to Banks.

On Monday 23rd March 2020, the Council submitted a Petition to the government of Ghana, through Office of the President to help cushion Private Schools from the effects of the closure of schools and ensure the sustainability of private education which provides education for over 30 percent of school going children. The Council has proposed the following for Government’s consideration and action:

• Suspension of SSNIT and GRA contributions till one month after schools re-open.

• Provision of loans at reasonable rates and repayment periods to distressed private schools to pay salaries of their staff, and

• Suspension of bank loans repayments for distressed schools and resume payment a month after schools re-open.

It is our trust that our listening government would respond favourably to our petition, as these measures will go a long way to enable private schools to continue supporting the government’s transformational agenda for our country’s education.

Thank you very much for your usual support and attention.

Thank you.

Signed!

Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah

National Executive Director, GNACOPS