Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has called on the government to come to the aid of private schools through effective collaboration and support packages.
According to GNAPS, covid-19 dealt a mortal blow to private schools especially low-fee private schools “many of which are still in the intensive care unit being kept alive with oxygen ventilators. Unfortunately, many schools particularly low fees private schools never recovered from the coronavirus attack”.
Addressing the 8th biennial delegate’s conference on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, in Koforidua, President of GNAPS Dr. Damascus Tuuroson cited a 2020 report which indicated that 80% of low-fee private schools risk collapsing
“These schools were suffocating from a shortage of teaching staff, poor infrastructure, overdue loans, and lack of capital to procure the necessary logistics, parent’s inability or failure to settle fees have further worsened the plight of the financially emaciated low fees private schools and private schools at large”
Furthermore, he stated that harsh economic conditions are worsening the plight of private schools.
“Persistent fuel price hikes, have grounded school buses, and increasing prices of foodstuff have left many private school children hungry staring into the faces of school matrons wondering where their hitherto delicious meals have gone to. The free fall of the cedi against major international currencies especially the US dollar has escalated the cost of doing business to the extent that private school workers are also crying for a cost of living allowance (COLA).
“A major lifeline which we used to revive our distress private schools is credit that we usually use to revive our operation, however, base rate increases by the bank of Ghana have further worsened the woes of schools as proprietors find it too expensive borrowing from the financial institutions”
Dr. Damascus Tuuroson however stated that unfavorable government policies are further deteriorating the situation.
“State institutions which are supposed to nurse private schools during this period of crises have failed us rather than assisting us to brace this economic storm, some state institutions bare worsening the plight through their actions, inactions, pronouncements, and in some cases deliberate sabotage.
Much as many of us are reluctant to believe the conspiracy theorists who claim that some government agencies are deliberately trying to sabotage the progress of private schools as a mean of boosting public school education. Current happenings strengthen the position of the conspiracy theorists.
How else will you explain a suggestion by the Director General of Ghana Education service to the effect that 80% placement into category “A” SHSs should be reserved for public school children whilst private school students seeking to enter Category “A” schools be made to sit and entrance Examination aside the BECE “.
The GNAPS President lamented that “it appears to be almost 100% concentration on public schools to the neglect of private schools, in particular, our low fees private schools”.
Former president John Dramani Mahama who was the guest speaker at the event called on the government to extend Covid-19 support packages to private schools and include private senior high schools in the Free SHS policy.
Source: Mybyrnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
