Committee recommends transfer of tutors

Mampong (Ash), Aug 10, GNA - The committee of enquiry set up by the Sekyere West District Assembly to investigate the causes of disturbances at the Asante-Mampong Technical Teachers College (MTTC) on May 14, this year, has recommended that teachers who had spent more than 10 years in the college should be transferred because they impeded discipline.

Consequently, Messrs M.S. Okrah, Senior House Master and Philip Adu-Poku, House Two Housemaster, are to be transferred from the college. The report of the committee and its recommendations, which were released on Thursday have been copied to the Sekyere West District Director of Education, the Principal of the College and the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the college.

It noted that the students did not have any moral justification to embark on the disturbances since it was found out that the food served to them at the dining hall, which was the main focus of the disturbances was acceptable both in quality and quantity.

The report recommended that the food should be maintained on the basis of the money (5,500 cedis) being paid as feeding allowance per student per day.

On the charge of illegal deductions of money from their monthly allowances, the committee said it found out that the college sought approval from the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to deduct the money for the printing and sale of syllabuses, bond forms and examination fees.

The committee said for instance that from January to April 2004, the college generated a total amount of 33 million cedis from the internal charges and made total expenditure of 27.27 million cedis. The report also said the committee found out that there was no overcrowding at the dormitories and that the first floor of the Annex block was even unoccupied.

It asked the college's administration to step up its disciplinary measures in accordance with the GES Service Code of Discipline and also called for the establishment of good rapport between the administration and the SRC to serve as a mark of transparency.

The report called for unity and co-operation among the teaching staff and the administration in the college's quest to instil discipline among the students and asked all the parties involved to ensure that there was peace at the college.