Senior high schools in Ghana are grappling with significant challenges due to arrears in funding and irregular disbursements from the government.
Mr. Primus Baro, the National Secretary of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), recently outlined these concerns in detail, urging government to intervene in the situation.
His statement highlighted issues concerning two major areas: the financial burden on schools and the adequacy of food supplies for students.
One of the primary issues raised by Mr. Primus Baro is the arrears in recurrent fees, commonly known as school fees. He explained;
“There are about 14 to 17 fee items under the recurrent fee. These items take care of basic day-to-day administration of the school. For example, things like maintenance, stationery, ID cards for students, and others fall within this range.”
Mr. Primus Baro National Secretary, CHASS
However, he noted that arrears in recurrent fees date back as far as 2021. This delay has placed immense pressure on schools to manage their operations effectively.
Another area of concern is the funding for perishables, which are essential for feeding students. He emphaszed;
“These are monies that come for us to buy ingredients, take care of the kitchen, and purchase items like gas and firewood. We also have some arrears in that respect.’’
Mr. Primus Baro National Secretary, CHASS
Mr. Baro explained the arrangement for food supply in senior high schools, highlighting the dual system where the government supplies raw food while schools receive funds for perishables.
A major difficulty highlighted by Mr. Baro is the lack of transparency in fee structures and the absence of input from CHASS in determining these fees.
He explained that schools used to be involved in a fee-fixing committee comprising representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ministry of Education, and CHASS. However, he stated;
“For a long time now, we have not been involved. So, we really do not know how much comes in for each of the items. It is only when monies are paid that we can tell which aspect the fee is coming in for.’’
Mr. Primus Baro National Secretary, CHASS
Irregular Payment of Specific Fee Items
Mr. Baro provided insights into the inconsistent payment of specific fee items, noting that only a few items, such as sports, sanitation, and examination fees, have been paid in recent years. He added;
“Some of the items, like ID cards and library fees, have not been touched at all. Over the years, it’s only about two or three items that have been paid, and even that doesn’t happen every year.’’
“Examination fees have been the most consistently paid because of obvious reasons, but all the others, like ICT fees and library fees, have not featured at all.”
Mr. Primus Baro National Secretary, CHASS
The irregular disbursement of funds has left schools struggling to manage their operations. Mr. Baro emphasized that schools have had to rely on the perishable component of fees, which has been relatively constant but still comes with arrears.
Mr. Baro also pointed out that arrears in utility bills have added to the financial strain on schools, making it even more challenging to ensure smooth operations.
Mr. Primus Baro’s statement sheds light on the pressing financial and logistical challenges senior high schools face in Ghana. He urged the government’s intervention to revitalize the Senior High system.
The arrears in recurrent fees, the inconsistent payment of fee items, and the lack of involvement in fee determination have all contributed to the burden on schools.
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