Headmistress seeks policy protection against parents who default on fees

The Headmistress of Yesu Mo School at Kanewu in the Tema West Municipality, Elizabeth Akpene Apoh, has called on the government to introduce legislation or a clear policy to address the transfer of pupils whose parents owe outstanding school fees to other educational institutions without settling their debts.

She said private schools depend largely on internally generated funds to pay teachers, procure teaching and learning materials and meet other operational expenses, despite their contribution to education in the country.

Akpene Apoh noted that some parents leave their children's school fees unpaid before transferring them to other institutions, including public schools. She said the practice places financial pressure on private educational institutions.

She made the appeal at a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of Yesu Mo School.

The school, which started with one pupil, now has an enrolment of more than 400. According to the school, its students have also recorded performances in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) over the years.

Akpene Apoh urged the government and relevant stakeholders to consider a policy requiring parents to settle outstanding fees before transferring their children to other schools.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Tema West, Ludwig Teye Totimeh, congratulated the school on reaching the milestone and said the Assembly was making efforts to improve educational delivery in the municipality.

The Headmaster of the school, Asiedu Kyei Desmond, urged students to take their education seriously and remain committed to their studies to improve their prospects.