The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has advised the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education to consider delaying the planned January 3, 2025, school reopening due to unresolved financial constraints. This recommendation comes after CHASS leadership sent multiple letters to the government, requesting payment of outstanding fees for perishables, recurrent expenses, and transportation costs related to food deliveries.
The letters, dated August 12th, November 13th, and December 20th, 2024, highlighted the financial struggles faced by schools, which may hinder their ability to reopen on schedule. Despite these requests, CHASS claims that the government has failed to provide a response or solution to the funding issues.
As a result, CHASS intends to inform parents and guardians about the potential delay in reopening through regional branches and school Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs). The organization emphasized that the decision to recommend a delay in reopening was not taken lightly, but rather as a last resort after repeated requests to the Ministry of Education and GES went unanswered.
The funding issues plaguing Ghana's secondary schools are multifaceted. CHASS cited unpaid recurrent funds, unsettled arrears for perishable items, and the exclusion of single-track and day schools from recent financial allocations as some of the key concerns. Additionally, schools are struggling with unpaid transportation costs for food distribution and mounting utility bills.
The Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education have yet to respond to CHASS's request for a delay in reopening. However, if the government fails to address the funding issues, it may lead to a disruption in the academic calendar, ultimately affecting the education of thousands of students.
In a similar appeal, CHASS urged the government to release outstanding funds to schools, warning that the lack of funds could severely hinder the reopening of schools scheduled for January 3, 2025. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the government will heed CHASS's warnings and provide the necessary funding to ensure a smooth reopening of schools.
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