Executive Director warns against illegal school fees

Amanase (E/R), April 26, GNA - Mr. Freeman Madzi, Executive Director of Abibiman Sankofa Cultural Movement (ASCUM) has warned that despite the policy of fee-free tuition in basic schools, many schools charge levies as a means of raising funds for school repair works, culture and sporting activities.

Mr. Freeman noted that if the situation continued, this could deter many families, particularly the poor farming communities, from sending their children to school.

He was addressing a 'fee-free' tuition issue that was raised at the Movement's Zonal Co-ordinators meeting at Amanase near Suhum in the Eastern Region on Saturday.

A cross-section of the co-ordinators said since members of their communities did not receive wages or salaries, it was becoming increasingly difficult for them to be paying for such activities, which they described as 'side issue'.

The Movement uses culture to promote its members income generating activities in order to alleviate poverty as a way to enhance their standard of living.

Mr. Freeman said some head teachers hid behind the Parent-Teacher Associations to charge levies, despite directives to the contrary. The Executive Director appealed to Circuit Supervisors in the area to help check the situation, else it could be attributed to a ploy to get the children out of school.

The zonal meeting also discussed, among other things, members farming activities and how to raise sufficient funds to repair their faulty palm cracker and oil extraction machines.