GES: Headteacher rejects textbook for school children on political grounds

Ghanaians are bashing the headteacher Mr. Naduttey Stephen of Azah JHS a basic school in Azah electoral area in Yuro Krobo for refusing to accept support from the Assemblyman of his area for pupils on his school on political grounds. Yuro Krobo is a district in the Eastern Region of south Ghana.

The Assemblyman according to news monitored by newsghana24 on peace Fm went to the school to supply students with books but the Headteacher refused to receive supplies of exercise on political grounds.

According to the headteacher, the Yulo Krobo directorate of education had issued a directive that the school should not receive donations for school children when such donations are brought to the schools and followed by the media.

Mrs. Veronica Tettey the director of education in the district refused to comment on the matter and directed it to the PRO who complained that certain protocols were not followed in the process.

However, investigations revealed that the directives to prevent the media from coming to the school was because the school building was not a good one and efforts were been made to hide its bad state from the eye of the general public.

The newly elected Assemblyman revealed that he informed the headteacher through a letter ahead of the day but he was turned down. Mr. Frank Tetteh Okai member of the school management said he was disappointed in the headmaster and the education directorate.

The headteacher also revealed that he could be queried by the director of education in the district if he received the books. The Assemblyman indicated that the headteacher said the directive was from above.

READ:  BECE 2020 Cut-Off Point: Everything You Need to Know

According to information gathered so far, school children in the school needed the supplied stationery to help in their academic work however, the headmaster decided to show off his power by rejecting the donations to the needy students in his school.

This is a clear indication of misplaced priorities unless the GES and the government can confirm that it has given such directives to headteachers or the headteacher has discretional powers to reject resources that are needed by the pupils of the school. This move by the headteacher is clearly very unethical and must be condemned.

READ: University of Ghana Legon Cut Off Points 2020/2021 Admissions

The school had a very poor structure that was crying for help. The primary school of the basic school was built with bamboo sticks but looked very unfit for teaching and learning.

Ghana’s care calling on the Minister of Education and the MP for the area to step in to ensure such needed resources for school children are not denied them by headteachers for any political reasons.

A commentator confirmed that a similar incident happened in his school where he teaches. He wrote “UTV ONCE CAME TO MY SCHOOL IN ATWIMA MPONUA DISTRICT AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS STRUCTURE IS FAR BETTER THAN OURS.”

READ: Help Gumyoko Junior High – Support My School Project

Many have judged the headteacher’s decision to reject the assistance as selfish and unhelpful to the poor students in the school. Others have questioned if the headteacher is in the school to educate our children or to seek his personal selfish interest. 

Again, the public could not understand why the government was spending so much to build a Cathedral instead of building and replacing the dilapidated school building. So such schools still exist and our MPs wanted a chamber oh Ama Ghana…another commentator lamented.

READ: Lesson Plan Preparation, outmoded or relevant requirement?

It is clear that the headteacher has denied the pupils of the school great assets and must be called to book.

It is rare for a forward-looking, concerned Headteacher to reject help for school children on political grounds but this is Ghana, where people in leadership use their positional power to torment others as well us lose sight of their role, are people who must seek the well being of those they lead.

The GES must come out on this.

Source: NewsGhana24.com |Wisdom Hammond