Accra, Feb. 4, GNA - The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MOEYS) has directed Heads of second cycle schools who have billed students for arrears of boarding fees for the first term of this academic year to immediately refund the monies.

Mr Kwadwo-Baah-Wiredu, the Sector Minister, in a statement on Wednesday, urged parents and guardians to ensure that they collected the money from the respective schools.

The Ministry said it expected that the approved feeding fee of 513,333 cedis would take effect from January 2004, as it was endorsed toward the end of the term.

"Nevertheless, and much to the surprise of the Ministry, some Heads of Senior Secondary Schools proceeded to include in the bills of students for the second term an amount of 121,333 cedis representing arrears of boarding fees per student for the first term," the Ministry said.

The Ministry said it was of the view that some Heads of Institutions had misinterpreted the December 2, 2003 Circular on Feeding Fees by the Director-General of Ghana Education Service, saying the action was "unfortunate and unjustifiable".

The Ministry, however, commended Principals of Teacher Training Colleges for their collective decision to implement the new boarding fees from January 2004.

Following demands for an adjustment in feeding fees, the Ministry increased the boarding fees from 392,000 cedis to 513,333 cedis.