School heads advised to follow guidelines on Capitation Grant

Sekondi Sept. 29, GNA - Mrs Kafui Aku Fiakpornoo, Western Regional Director of Education, on Thursday advised heads of basic schools to go strictly by the guidelines on the handling of the capitation grant to ensure the success of the Free Compulsory and Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) Programme.

She made the call in an address read for her at the first Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the Old Hospital Junior Secondary School in Sekondi.

The Day was on the theme: "Good Investment In The Child's Education, A Bright Future".

Mrs Fiakpornoo commended the government for making basic education free before the take off of the FCUBE programme. She warned that school heads that flout the ban on levies would be sanctioned and advised heads of basic schools to ensure the success of the government's investment policy that would lead to the success of the Education For All by 2015 programme.

Mrs Fiakpornoo said the government has over the years invested in education through the provision of school infrastructure facilities, textbooks, stationary, equipment and other requisites to enhance access, equity and quality for all children of school going age as well as improve teaching and learning.

She said investment in education could not and should not be the sole responsibility of government alone.

Mrs Fiakpornoo said the policy of community participation in education through the District Assemblies, the community, among other stakeholders, must be made to work.

In an address read for him, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, urged parents and guardians to invest in the education of their wards and to provide their needs to facilitate their studies.

He said: "Above all, you should have time for them and monitor their studies and behaviour closely".

Mr Aidoo spoke against "the phenomena of street that has suddenly become a part of our culture" adding, "Street children were hitherto unknown in our society because parents were more responsible and the extended family system supported those who could literally not look after their children.

Mrs Rita Ankomah, Headmistress, said the school was not fenced and this made it difficult to check intruders.

She said although the school has a watchman, the place has become a den for "Wee' smokers, place of convenience and other vices adding that some pupils also played truancy during the fishing season.