The Minster for Education, Youth and Sports, Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu has said that, the outcry about the level of school fees this year is rather unfortunate, because when the Cabinet approved of the new fees, it directed that the increase be absorbed in total by the Ministry of Finance.

The Minister made this disclosure today in Accra in reaction to this academic year’s school fees and other levies during the “Press Briefing” at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information. He said, the investigations conducted into the matter revealed among others that; fees charged have usually been swollen mainly by the PTA dues, Board of Governors levies, and other charges imposed by Heads of Schools.

Mr Baah Wiredu said that most of these extra fees and levies that are almost equal to the approved fees have not been cleared by the Director General of Ghana Education Service by earlier directive and described the practice as disturbing.

The Minister stated that, all heads of schools and colleges are aware that the regulation regarding PTA levies should not be more than ? 80,000.He, therefore, questioned those schools such as Adonteng Secondary school, Asamankese Secondary school Prempeh College that charged arbitrary fees of ? 350,000, ? 320,000, ? 330,000 respectively far above the regulated PTA fee.

The Sector Minister said, it was regrettable that, the impression is being created that, government is insensitive to the plight of parents because since 2001/2002 academic year, the Government had not increased fees payable by parents. The Government, Mr Baah Wiredu said, to redress the situation had directed that all PTA and other levies above the regulated ? 80,000 paid by parents should be refunded to them. The Government had therefore directed all affected schools to complete the refunds to parents by the close of this term.

The Minister said to forestall future occurrence of these high levels of unapproved levies and charges, government had further directed that, henceforth; parents should have the option of purchasing their own school materials like books and uniforms from either the school or the open market. Under no circumstance should PTA issue separate bills to parents, the Minister cautioned. All bills of Second cycle institutions shall be vetted by the District Directors of Education before being sent to parents and each term’s bill displayed openly on the notice boards of Schools and Colleges, he directed.

The Government would do all it can to ensure that, parents are not unduly exploited so as to give meaning to the attempt at allowing more people have access to Secondary education., the Minister concluded.