Sanction GES heads who charge unapproved fees - Mahama

President John Mahama has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to be firm with heads of school who continue to charge unapproved fees.

Activities of heads of schools that collect illegal fees came to the limelight when the education ministry punished some of them after several warnings.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Adugyama in the Ahafo Ano South District to commission one of the 123 Community Day senior high schools, President Mahama revealed he has asked the Ghana Education Service to be firm on teachers who perpetuate that illegal act.

President Mahama who is in the Ashanti region as part of the Accounting to the People tour warned school heads who refused to issue receipts to students for fees paid would be dealt with.

“I have asked the Ghana Education Service to be very firm on this matter and we are not going to take a step back. Any headmaster who charges unapproved fees would sanction severely.”President Mahama has warned.

Some senior high school headmasters have been sanctioned for collecting unapproved fees. According to President Mahama, government has no intention to continuously punish heads, the move has become necessary.

“We’ve already sanctioned some headmasters and I don’t want us continue to sanction others. So I am asking all headmasters, the schedule of fees that are approved and agreed between you and the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service are the fees that must be charged.”

Meanwhile, President Mahama has announced 100 new schools have been awarded on contract after the World Bank agreed to finance construction of 23 new Community Day Senior High Schools.

At least, out of 10,000 scholarships are to be offered poor but brilliant students as part of a USD 156 Million loan-facility, 6000, representing 60 per cent would be girls.

A component of the loan facility to supply school girls with sanitary wares received nationwide uproar.

But President justified government’s decision to supply girls with sanitary wears.