Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports on Tuesday warned that no head of basic school can prevent a child from attending classes for failing to pay any levy or fee.

He gave the warning in Parliament when answering a question asked on behalf of Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip. The Majority Chief Whip, who MP for Suame, asked the Minister if he was aware that some schools through the collaboration of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Tutors had introduced study fees per pupil per day and thereby defeating the purpose of the Capitation Grant.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah answered; "... My Ministry will appreciate it if the Hon. Member of Parliament will give names of specific schools to enable us take necessary action on the offending heads." The Minister observed that the introduction of the Capitation Grant had recorded a huge enrollment in schools and implored stakeholders, including MPs and District Assemblies to monitor the activities in schools.

"Mr Speaker, I implored all stakeholders to assist the Ministry to make basic education accessible to all children of school going age irrespective of socio-economic background of their parents." When asked by Mr Stephen Balado Manu, NPP-Ahafo-Ano South when the Mankranso Senior Secondary School would be selected for upgrading a model school, Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the Mankranso Senior Secondary School would be considered for selection in the next phase of selection of schools to be upgraded to model schools.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said about 95 per cent of work had been completed on the first phase of 31 schools selected in 2004, and facilities for the schools would soon be formally inaugurated. He said contracts for the second phase of 25 would soon be awarded. President John Agyekum Kufuor on the assumption of office in 2001 decided as a policy objective to bridge the infrastructural gap between few urban-based secondary schools and the less endowed rural-based schools.

In pursuance of the policy the District Assemblies and District Directorate of Education were mandated to select a secondary school each in the various districts for upgrading. The programme aims at upgrading one secondary school in each district in phases.