National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has called on the Ministry of Education to consider abolishing the Parents Association (PA) scheme in Senior High Schools (SHSs) if it undermines the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
This statement follows the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) decision to suspend headteachers from Ahantaman Senior High School and St. Roses Senior High School in Akwatia due to accusations of unauthorised fee collection.
NAGRAT argues that these fees were instituted by the Parents Association rather than the school administrations, deeming the disciplinary action against the headteachers to be unfair.
At a recent press conference, NAGRAT President Angel Carbonu called for the prompt reinstatement of the suspended headteachers, emphasising that the schools should not be penalised for the actions of the Parents Association.
“With the coming in of the Free Senior High School, the role of the PTAs was abandoned. What we now have in the schools is the Parents Association without the teachers,” Mr. Carbonu explained.
He went on to explain that, regarding the suspended headteachers, the Parents Association had independently decided to gather funds for a particular purpose.
“If the ministry feels that the presence of the PAs is negatively affecting the smooth running of the schools within the context of Free SHS, the ministry can ban the formation of PAs outrightly,” Mr. Carbonu added.