Parents Association (PA) of Nyamaa Basic School in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono region have debunk allegations that the school’s headmistress is charging GHC 1000 as admission fee for the 2023 academic year.

There were earlier reports by some parents who have their wards at the school that the headmistress, Madam Rita Essien is charging the said amount from parents contrary to the P.A agreed amount during their last meeting.

On 24^th November 2022, the Parents Association of the school agreed that lower Primary continuing pupils pay GHC454, upper primary pupils pay GHC 610 whilst JHS students were expected to pay GHC620 as cost of exercise books, text books and school uniforms. Over ninety percent (90%) of the parents present at the meeting agreed to pay the said amount to help enhance teaching and learning at the school.

But in an interview with Sompa FM in Sunyani Monday January 23, Madam Afia Acheampomaa, the Vice Chairperson of the P.A Nyamaa Basic School indicated that the allegations are false and it must be treated with the contempt it deserves.

“The government brought books but they were not enough to be supplied to all the students therefore we discussed it with the parents that they contribute their part for the purchase of text books and exercise books. They agreed without hesitation.”

“The government text books are not supposed to be taken outside the school but those that are purchased by the parents could be taken home for their private studies. We can’t solely rely on the inadequate government textbooks meanwhile our students would write same examination with their colleagues at the various resourced private schools. Therefore, we can’t afford to look unconcern whilst they fail”, Madam Acheampomaa explained.

“The headmistress never wanted to take part in the collection of the monies because the teachers are no more involved in the association, it is now Parents Association and not Parents Teachers Association but we appealed to her to take charge.”

The Vice Chairperson expressed shock in the earlier reports that the headmistress was charging GHC1000 instead of the agreed upon amount, saying, “this is a public school she can’t charge monies without our consent.”

She called on the general public to disregard such misinformation, adding that they must seek for clarification from the school authorities before spreading the falsehood.

Meanwhile, some of the parents who visited the school at the time of filing this report to seek admission for their wards said they were not charged GHC1000 as speculated but the agreed amount during the last meeting.

The Sunyani Municipal education directorate of the Ghana Education Service however, declined speaking to Sompa FM on record but stated that they have begun investigation into the matter.

Source: Ghana/Sompaonline.com/Akua Nyarko Abronoma