GNAT questions GES over the interdiction of ‘WASS headmistress’

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) following the interdiction of the West African Senior High School (WASS) headmistress, Dr Shine Agatha Ofori over the collection of unauthorised money has questioned the Ghana Education Service over its decision.

In a statement sighted by AcademicWeek, GNAT said the Education Service’s move to interdict public school heads over alleged collection of fees subjects the heads to psychological trauma, moral and impugning their reputation.

“This behaviour is bringing the personalities of school heads and teachers, and their skills and competencies into question, disrepute, and opprobrium. The GES must put its own house in order internally, before going to town every now and then with school heads who have become pawns in its blame game,” the teacher union said in the statement.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in the press statement said it would like to find out from the management of the Ghana Education Service (GES);

1. Whether pre-financing the running of schools by the Heads in terms of capitation grant, administrative cost, and meeting other overhead cost from their own resources to be recouped later constitute an infraction?

ii. Should Heads allow their students to go hungry as in the case of Binduri SHS which resulted in a riot leading to the temporary closure of the school as carried by the Friday, 21st July, 2023, Editorial of the Daily Graphic Whether the PTA and Old Boys / Girls Associations can appropriately support the schools using their own resources both in cash and kind?

iv. Why should school heads who are very responsible people and taught many of the policymakers be made to keep quiet over the ineptitude of the said policymakers?

v. As citizens, why can’t they complain or cry out, when things are not going on well in their schools?

The teacher union following the West African Senior High School (WASS) headmistress, has cautioned all heads of government Senior High Schools (SHSs) to stop pre-finance the running of the schools from their own resources.

“And to the Ghana Education Service, GES, we wish to state categorically that, Enough is Enough! We are fed up, and the earlier GES stopped embarrassing school heads, teachers, and all other staff in the sector,” the Association said.

The statement signed by Thomas T. Musah, the General Secretary of the Association of Teachers (GNAT) added that “To Dr (Mrs) Shine Agatha Ofori and all who have suffered a similar fate, we say “we are with you in spirit and solidarity,”