Government should not fix fees for private schools

Mr K.B Asante, President of the Foundation for Education Research and Development (FERD) on Thursday urged government not to interfere in the fixing of fees by the private schools but to allow forces of demand and supply and the level of quality of teaching determine the price.

Speaking at the launch of the FERD he said while public criticism should be of concern to government the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) should concentrate their efforts to ensuring that the necessary infrastructure, teaching and administrative competences coupled with a congenial atmosphere to enhance learning exist and are maintained in the schools.

"Schools which over-charge will certainly go out of business. If an individual wants a child to go to a particular private school he must find the money to pay the fees or go to another school and not complain to the Minister of Education or the Ghana Education Service (GES)”, he said.

Asante said if the past was to be a guide, then private initiative should be welcomed to show paths through the gloom to quality and excellence in Education.

He said FERD has been formed not to establish a Trade Union to promote sectional interests but to promote excellence in education by improving quality teaching and learning in member schools. Twelve schools form the initial members of FERD