Release free SHS grant; we’re suffering – CHASS

The delayed payment of the Free SHS grant for the third term of the 2017/2018 academic year is creating serious financial challenges for Second-cycle schools across the country, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools(CHASS) has bemoaned.

A letter dated 28th May, 2018 to the Secretariat and sighted by Kasapafmonline.com said no tranche has been released yet, despite spending the first half(7wks) of the scheduled period for this term(14wks).

“We are in the seventh(7th) week of re-opening and we are required to spend fourteen(14) weeks in school this term and yet no school has received any grant from the Free SHS Secretariat yet.” the letter signed by National President of CHASS, Victor Yanney partly read.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has said a total of GH¢ 484million has, as of May 23, been spent on the free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

An earlier statement signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit, Ekow Vincent Assafuah, said it was providing all the necessary logistics needed for the smooth implementation of the free SHS programme and other important initiatives geared towards fostering quality education.