Regional News of Wednesday, 23 February 2005

Source: GNA

Parents express concern about levies

Suhum, Feb. 23, GNA - Some parents of the Local Authority Primary and Junior Secondary School at Suhum in the Eastern Region, have expressed their disapproval of the imposition of 34,000 cedis levy on the pupils towards the connection of electricity to the school. To this end, the parents have appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the District Assembly to ensure that the imposition of the levy conformed to GES regulations to avoid any confrontation between the school authorities and the parents.

Making the appeal after a meeting with the headmistress of the school, Ms Philomina Addo, on Monday, a spokesman of the parents complained that the amount was too high for them since apart from the school fees, parents pay other fees like extra classes, sports and printing fees.

According to him, at times, parents, who could not pay the levy, had their children sacked from school during class hours, making them to loiter about in the town pushing trucks.

When the headmistress was contacted, she confirmed the levy but said it was a collective decision taken by both the PTA and the school authorities at a general meeting.