As the Head of SHSs, You've Betrayed Trust Outline the Prospectus Dos and Don'ts and Illegal Fees for SHS Entrance

A betrayal of confidence as the head of SHSs introduces illegal fees and a prospectus while ignoring ethics, GES directives, and the trust of the parents. We must all speak out against this and put an end to it.

A troubling picture is painted by the recent reports that headmasters and headmistresses at seven schools in the Ashanti Region were forced to resign after allegedly seeking unlawful fees during the admissions process.

It is an insult to parents, children, and the educational system as a whole that there is such flagrant disdain for the guidelines set forth by the Ghana Education Service (GES), the recently unveiled Standardized National Prospectus, and the core values of the teachers' code of conduct.

These school administrators, who are charged with forming young minds and maintaining moral principles, have put their own interests ahead of the welfare of their pupils and the integrity of the educational process.

In addition to being financial abuse of parents, the receipt of unapproved fees and the distribution of unapproved prospectuses foster inequality and unfair advantage for those with the means to pay. This fosters corruption and undercuts the fundamental tenet of free public education.

Such behavior reveals a total disdain for the national initiative to simplify and standardize the SHS admissions procedure. The introduction of the Standardized National Prospectus aimed to provide uniformity and openness in fees and data for all public secondary health schools. These headmasters and headmistresses have undermined the government's attempts to enhance the caliber and equity of the educational system in addition to betraying the confidence vested in them by disobeying these directions.

This incident serves as a stark reminder to other heads of schools of the importance of ethical leadership. They must uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability. It is their responsibility to ensure that all school fees and practices adhere to the GES guidelines and prioritize the welfare of their students above personal gain.

In light of this, parents are urged to exercise caution, stay up to date on approved fees and materials, and report any instances of extortion or unapproved charges without delay. Your involvement and voice will play a critical role in holding school administrators responsible and guaranteeing that all children receive an equitable and high-quality education.

This is not just a case of misconduct; rather, it points to a larger, systemic problem of corruption and unethical behavior that requires immediate attention.

To ensure that such situations don't happen again, the GES needs to take decisive action to fully examine these cases, make sure the proper disciplinary actions are taken, and put in place tougher monitoring procedures.

Working together, parents and school administrators may create a responsible and transparent educational system. Only then will we be able to establish a learning atmosphere that upholds moral principles, encourages fair access to education, and guarantees a better future for everybody.