Free SHS: Heads and CHASS can’t cough in the face of daunting challenges

The last straw!!!

• A corrupt organ has been set up and called Buffer stock to manage feeding of students under FSHS.
• The FSHS secretariat is another office created to perpetuate corrupt activities and shady deals in admissions.
• The president should not be comfortable with the silence of Heads.
• Heads can’t even cough in the face of daunting challenges

I have been hesitant in writing this short open note to the president but the recent CHASS Conference at Cape Coast was the last straw that broke the camel’s back and compelled me to break my silence.

To begin with, I was a member of Heads who openly campaigned for a change in 2016 but things have not been as expected.

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I have been a Headmaster for over 12 years and in my last days to retire from the GES after 35 years of active service. I want to emphasize that, in all my years in the classroom or office, NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF GHANA HAS HEADS WORKED UNDER FEAR, THREAT, AND STRESS AS HAS BEEN IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

Today, many Heads are in hurry to retire to regain their freedom. Until 2017, CHASS was a recognized and respected association with a voice. CHASS was instrumental in Education policy formulation, analysis, and evaluation.

CHASS could organize a press conference to let the government and the public know it’s position on educational issues as critical stakeholders without fear of any sanction.

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Now, no Head can cough even in the face of daunting challenges. Heads are in full support of the free SHS but certainly not the approach of its implementation and particularly the Draconian attitude of ignorant political actors in the sector.

The president should not be comfortable with the silence of Heads, it may explode at a time when it may be too late.

It is better to allow space for people to ventilate their concerns than this gagging order. It should be noted that, when it comes to actions that threaten the job of anyone, it doesn’t matter one’s political orientation.

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It is always better to sacrifice a political party to safeguard one’s job. The signs are not too good, Mr. President.

Heads are working under an Oga and his deputies who have no respect for Heads can insult Heads without blinking. Ministers who, at a meeting, can call Heads to be on their feet just to insult them.

This never happened, not even under military regimes. The little said about GES Headquarters the better.

Today, a corrupt organ has been set up and called Buffer stock to manage feeding of students under FSHS.

The FSHS secretariat is another office created to perpetuate corrupt activities and shady deals in admissions.

The 2 corrupt offices are matters for another day.

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For the first time, GES officials boycotted the CHASS conference because Oga wasn’t happy with an address delivered by the president of CHASS. Mr President, no government succeeded with anti-teacher policies.

It happened under Kuffour when CSSPS was introduced and Heads were described as corrupt and teachers had their salaries withheld, the party lost the next election.

Mahama government introduced some anti-teacher policies on nonpayment of arrears, delay in promotion, etc and they lost the next election.

Having been a Headmaster since Kufour’s regime, I’m in a position to predict what may happen if certain things remain unchanged. Many Heads, 1st and 2nd cycle institutions, have suffered undue punishments without recourse to GES structures.

Mr. President, please open your eyes over the education sector before it’s too late. Some of us are on our way out but I pity colleagues who are still in the service. The constant threats on Heads must stop. #Headscantbreathe.

Contributor: Anonymous  Headteacher