CHASS surprised at GES action to suspend headmaster
The Conference of the Heads of government Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has expressed surprise at the suspension of the headmaster of the Toase Senior High School, Mr Annor Yeboah, for charging illegal fees and described the decision as ‘too harsh and hasty.’
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The President of CHASS, Mr Samuel Ofori-Adjei, who expressed the position of CHASS in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said administratively, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education had no authority to suspend any headmaster, adding that the right authority to issue such a directive was the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).
He said much as it did not condone wrong doing, “We thought the right thing should have been done”, and added that “and even that, we feel the right administrative procedures should have been followed. The Director-General would have to set up an enquiry to look into the action of the headmaster”.
The GES has suspended Mr Yeboah and reprimanded 10 others for charging illegal fees.
A letter signed by the Regional Director of the GES, Mr Kofi Sarfo Kantanka, said the decision was to restore sanity in the administration of schools in the region.
Mr Yeboah was alleged “to have had the impudence to tell authorities who were on a fact-finding mission to the school that there was nothing he could do to rectify the unapproved fees charged.”
Mr Ofori-Adjei said the decision to suspend Mr Yeboah, who was due for retirement next month, was rather too harsh and hasty and that such a decision needed to be looked at again.
Position of CHASS
He assured that CHASS was not sitting down looking on unconcerned, “Indeed, even before this action, the executive of CHASS has been talking to its members on the quiet.”
Mr Ofori-Adjei recalled that before the beginning of the academic year, he had personally signed a letter copied to members reminding them of the need to strictly follow laid down admission process as adopted by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The said letter reminded heads of second cycle schools that it was wrong for any of them to ask parents to either pay for or supply the school with certain items as part of the admission process.
“All heads were reminded that no member should include in the students’ bill, unapproved items. Each item on the bill should have justification and more importantly, approved by the appropriate quarters,” he said, adding that all heads were told that such directives should not be misconstrued as stifling initiative.
Form A to F
He said all heads were aware that there was a procedure to follow if the school decided to undertake any project that required such items.
Mr Ofori-Adjei said there was a form known as Form A to F, which heads of senior high schools filled for permission to bill students, adding that the said form was supposed to be signed by the board chairman of the school, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman and the headmaster of the school before it was forwarded to the Regional Director of Education and finally to the Director-General for approval.