Don't distort government policies and programmes - PM

Gomoa Kokofu, C/R), Aug 19, GNA - The Presiding Member of the Gomoa District Assembly, Mr Fred Oscar Abban, has denied that the government has given directives that parents and guardians should go to Accra to get a paper before their children and wards could be admitted into Senior Secondary Schools next academic year.

He said the computerised school selection and placement system (CSSPS) introduced by the government this year was meant to avert bribery and the agony some parents and guardians went through before getting admission for their children into SSS.

The Presiding Member was speaking at the presentation of a cassava-processing machine to the Chiefs and people of Gomoa Kokofu to process their cassava into gari.

The Machines worth 10 million cedis was donated by the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and presented by the Gomoa District Chief Executive, Miss Joyce Aidoo.

Mr Abban stated this in reaction to a statement by the Chief of Gomoa Kokofu, Nana Otu Ghansah III that parents in the rural areas could not send their children to SSS One this year because the government has directed that they should go to Accra before getting admission. He said it was unfortunate that some opposition parties were distorting government policies and programmes meant to assist parents and explained that the system would give code numbers to JSS 3 students who would attend various secondary schools instead of their parents going round to seek admission.

Mr Abban explained that students who had finished JSS in 2002,2003 and 2004 could not gain admission because of financial constraints but would have to go to District Offices of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to buy forms, which cost 10,000 cedis. He said the forms would be filled and sent back to the offices to be sent to the GES headquarters in Accra for processing and returned to schools of their choices, adding that, the institutions would write them depending on their grades.

Mr Abban who is also the Assistant Headmaster of the Dawurampong Seconadry School, asked parents especially those in rural areas to ignore people going round to peddle false information about the new computerised school selection and placement system, which was the best to help them save money to cater for their children's education. He asked parents to have faith in the government, adding that, they had suffered for far too long seeking admission for their wards and the time had come for them to relax and stop paying bribes before getting admissions for them.