Increase feeding fee for next academic year - CHASS

Takoradi, Sept. 12, GNA - The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) on Monday asked the government to increase the feeding fee and other academic fees for the next academic year to reflect the current economic situation.

It said the current GHC1.40 per student for breakfast, lunch, supper and other domestic expenses is woefully inadequate, it said.

In a communique issued at the end of its 49th Conference at Takoradi, the Conference also called for a National Policy on Education devoid of political polarization to stand the test of time.

It said the partisan politicization of important educational policies and issues was not in the best interest of national development and should be avoided.

The Communique, signed by Mr. Felix Essah Hienno, National Secretary of CHASS, said the appearance of CHASS members before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, which was televised live on GTV, was in bad taste and demoralized the members' enthusiasm to deliver even with inadequate resources.

It said other mutually acceptable means should have been used to interrogate the issues involved.

The communique said the guidelines proposed by the Computerized School Selection Placement System (CSSPS) that candidates go to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Education offices for the 30 per cent admission process should have the full involvement of headmasters and headmistresses.

It said the 30 per cent catchment area directive for admission of Senior High School One (SHS1) students as directed by the President is laudable.

The communique said the inadequate classroom and dormitory accommodation in some Senior High Schools is a source of worry to CHASS as the schools were preparing to admit 2011/2012 SHS1 students in October 2011.

Government should, therefore, speed up the provision of facilities in the schools for effective teaching and learning, it said.

The communique said all vacancies for headship in Senior High Schools should be filled as a matter of urgency.

"The Conference appreciates with depth of gratitude government's efforts at providing the needed infrastructure for effective quality educational delivery," the communiqu=E9 added.