Nat’l Tymes News Desk
THE Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) West Africa has descended heavily on the Ghana Education Service (GES) over what it describes as the commercialization of free basic education through forced after-school classes and illegal fees.
In a strongly worded petition to the Director-General of GES, the organization said some headteachers and teachers in public basic schools have turned classrooms into profit-making centres, compelling pupils to pay for extra classes after official contact hours.
The petition was filed by the West Africa Chairman of MMUN and Chairman for West Africa of the World Human Rights Association, Nii Ayitey Anumle Oyanka (King Oyanka I).
According to MMUN, parents are being coerced to pay between GHS10 and GHS50 per month per child, failure of which their wards are punished, stigmatized, and deliberately denied academic support during normal school hours.
“Education is not for sale. It is a right guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution and under the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) policy. No child must be forced to pay to learn in a public school,” King Oyanka stated.
Illegal and Unapproved:
The MMUN investigation revealed that the said extra classes are not captured in the official GES timetable and have not been approved by any District or Municipal Director of Education.
Despite that, headteachers are said to have made them compulsory, with some teaching critical topics and marking class exercises only during those paid sessions – a deliberate ploy to force all pupils to enroll.
“This is extortion. It is illegal, unapproved, and a clear breach of FCUBE. Public basic education is free, and no headteacher has the right to impose any fee,” the petition stressed.
Two Classes Of Pupils Created:
MMUN said the practice has created a two-class system in public schools, endangering the welfare and rights of children.
Pupils who attend the classes suffer exhaustion, burnout, loss of concentration, and are deprived of family time and rest.
Those who cannot afford to pay, mostly children from poor homes, face discrimination, are denied class leadership positions, are insulted in front of their peers, and suffer low self-esteem and academic disadvantage.
“This infringes on children’s right to rest, play, and family life. It excludes poor children due to inability to pay. The poor are being punished for being poor,” King Oyanka lamented.
Demands:
MMUN is demanding four immediate actions from GES:
1. An immediate nationwide circular banning all forced after-school classes and illegal levies;
2. Investigations and sanctions against culpable headteachers and teachers;
3. A full refund of all monies illegally collected from parents since the practice started;
4. A toll-free, anonymous reporting system for parents and pupils to report without fear of victimization.
The petition has been copied to the Minister for Education, CHRAJ, and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education for action.
MMUN has warned that if GES fails to act within 14 days, it will proceed to court and mobilize parents nationwide to resist the illegal fees.
“GES cannot look on while headteachers turn our public schools into private enterprises. We will defend every Ghanaian child. Education is not for sale,” King Oyanka warned.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
