EduWatch gives update on Achimota Basic 2 extortion saga
The Ghana Education Service has ruled for 2022 BECE students of Achimota Basic 2 school not to pay any amount of money before being allowed to partake in the selection of school process slated to end on November 18, 2022.
The verdict comes after Africa Education Watch reported the management of the Achimota Basic 2 school to the Ghana Education Service (GES) over demand of GH¢ 1,034 as a clearance fee for second cycle school selection.
In a social media post sighted by AcademicWeek, the Education think tank said Achimota Basic ‘2’ School is charging each Junior High School student GH¢ 1,034 before clearing them to select their second cycle school for placement.
“Even without the current obnoxious economy, it’s unconscionable for a school head to demand GH¢ 1,034 from a poor petty trader or in lieu, deny the child an opportunity to select an SHS,” the Education Watch stated in the post.
But, after an engagement with the Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service, 2022 Junior High School graduates of the Achimota School have been asked not to pay a dime for the school selection exercise.
“Eduwatch has been in touch with the GES HQ on the Achimota Basic 2 extortion case. Action has been taken immediately by the Regional Directorate. Achimota Basic 2 JHS 3 students can go and select their SHS without paying a dime to the school
“Beyond Achimota, no parent is obliged to pay any PTA dues or clearance fee before being allowed to select their ward’s SHS. Parents can call our monitoring team on 0201888889 for feedback on compliance,” it stated on Tuesday.
Following the GES ruling, EduWatch has called on the management of other basic schools charging the same fees before allowing 2022 BECE students to select their placement school to desist from such exploitation.
“Under a Free Basic Education Policy, it is illegal to ask Junior High School students to pay any amount before being allowed to select their second-cycle school
Other basic schools doing the same should stop the exploitation or we drag them to court for contempt of Article 38 (2) of the 1992 constitution,” the Education Policy Research and Advocacy Organization (EduWatch) noted.
