The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has issued an urgent appeal to the Minister of Education for the immediate release of funds pertaining to recurrent fees arrears and food supplies for schools.
In a letter addressed to the Minister, CHASS reiterated concerns first raised in a correspondence dated September 20, 2024.
Despite some issues being addressed, key matters regarding outstanding payments for recurrent fees from the 2021 academic year and refunds associated with the transportation of food items from regional food centers remain unresolved.
CHASS officials reported that the National Executives have engaged the Ghana Education Service (GES) management and the Minister multiple times on these issues, but no viable solutions have been reached.
As a result, schools are facing severe financial strain, struggling to manage operational costs due to unpaid recurrent fees.
Many school heads are confronted with creditor pressures, including threats of legal action.
The situation has become particularly critical as schools are now required to procure stationery for the ongoing admissions process.
Moreover, the organization expressed alarm over the lack of key food supplies to schools since the beginning of the 2024/2025 academic year, which has complicated efforts to feed students adequately.
This deficiency is reportedly leading to disciplinary issues and an increasingly uneasy atmosphere on campuses, raising safety concerns among school authorities.
To address these challenges, CHASS is urgently requesting not only the overdue funds for recurrent fees and food supplies but also immediate action to ensure schools receive adequate nutritional provisions.
They emphasized that failure to resolve these issues promptly could lead to further disruptions, including potential halts in major activities, such as the admissions process, due to lack of necessary resources.
