EduWatch reports Achimota Basic 2 to GES over extortion

Africa Education Watch has reported Achimota Basic 2 school to the Ghana Education Service (GES) over the demand for 2022 BECE graduates of the school to pay an amount before being cleared to select a placement school.

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.

EduWatch has consequently 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 the illegal act or 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.

According to the Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch, Mr Kofi Asare, consultations are underway between his outfit and the management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) on the Achimota Basic 2 school extortion.

“No parent is obliged to pay any dues or clearance fee before selecting Senior High School. If they insist, contact our monitoring team at 0201888889,” the Director of the Education think tank, Kofi Asare stated in a post on Facebook