Ho, Feb. 1, GNA - The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Kabore School Complex in Ho has expressed displeasure at having to be ignored by the Garrison Education Unit and the PTA's executives in entering into an agreement to establish an Information Communication Technology (ICT) department in the school. Members of the Association said much as they appreciated the initiative of the Garrison Education Unit and its executives to get the School started in ICT education as part of the education reforms, such a sensitive issue should have been tabled for discussion by the entire membership.

The PTA asserted that a better deal could be struck if there were wider consultations on the matter. The position of the PTA came out at a general Meeting on Wednesday at which the deal and its terms were announced. Under the deal each parent would be required to pay GH=A27.00 (70,000 cedis) per pupil per term for three years to pay for the computers, accessories and fees of the consultant, which cost one billion cedis.

Parents are already paying GH=A25.00 (50,000 cedis) per pupil per term to finance the cost of an eight-unit one-story classroom block for the school.

Under the deal 70 computers were installed for both Kabore School, which had 40 computers and the Volta Barracks School, 30. The parents argued that similar packages by some Senior High Schools in the Ho Municipality had to be terminated for non-performance and feared that their project might run into similar difficulties. They reminded the Garrison Education Unit and the PTA executives of the Public Procurement Law, which now governed any procurement transactions and recommended that a committee with PTA representation be constituted to oversee the running of the project. Some members were seen leaving the meeting in apparent protest at not being allowed to express their views on the matter. Mr Eli Elikem Kotoku, Chairman of the PTA explained that the circumstances under which the executives got involved in the deal were such that it was prudent to assist in getting the project through. He said the concerns of the PTA were seriously tabled throughout the transaction, which he said was in the best interest of the school. 01 Feb. 08