NAGRAT Urges Reconsideration of WASS Headmistress: The Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted Dr. Shine Agartha Ofori, the headmistress of West African Senior High School (WASS), which has raised concerns from the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT).
NAGRAT calls on the GES to reconsider its decision, stating that interdicting a headteacher over parent complaints does not address the underlying challenges faced by schools.
The interdiction of Dr. Shine Ofori was initiated by the GES following allegations that she collected money from students that had not been approved by the Ministry of Education (MoE).
As a consequence, she has been asked to hand over the school’s administration to the Regional Director of Education, pending the final determination of the case by the Regional Disciplinary Committee.
NAGRAT, in a press briefing led by its President, Angel Carbonu, expressed its disagreement with the GES’s decision. Mr. Carbonu argued that the root cause of some public Senior High Schools (SHSs) resorting to billing prospective students is the lack of resources provided by the central government.
He explained that critical funds required for maintaining school infrastructure, providing teaching and learning materials, and ensuring smooth operations are often insufficient.
Resources meant to be allocated to schools by the government frequently fall short, leading school authorities to appeal to parents for additional financial support through Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) contributions.
“We also have the need to provide teaching and learning materials to ensure that the purpose for which the students come to school is fulfilled, so when parents visit the schools, school authorities open up the realities of the school to the parents and responsible parents begin to gather themselves through the leadership of the PTA to contribute towards the provisions of some of these things. There are schools where parents contribute to augment the feeding situation,” said Mr. Carbonu.
The President of NAGRAT further emphasized the urgent need for the central government to engage with stakeholders in reviewing the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
He voiced concerns about the rapid deterioration of school conditions, citing a pressing need for adequate funding and resources to ensure quality education for students.
In conclusion, NAGRAT stands firm in its call for the reinstatement of Dr. Shine Agartha Ofori and any other headmistresses or headmasters facing similar situations.
The association urges the Ghana Education Service to address the core issue of resource inadequacy and collaborate with stakeholders to revamp the Free SHS policy for the betterment of the nation’s education system.
