Editorial
Exploitation of parents by some SHS heads
Second cycle institutions have just re-opened and fresh students who are entering the first year have been given bills to bring in certain items which they will need in school.
These items include brooms, cutlasses and buckets. At this time, these items have risen in prices because of the demand for them.
If these things are to help the school in any way, they will not be seen as creating problems for parents.
However, it is becoming increasingly clear that many heads of the institutions see this time as a period to exploit parents and guardians. When these items are brought, they are kept by loyal friends of the heads of the institutions who ensure that the items are taken to a particular shop for sale to the public.
We are told that, some of the shops are owned by the heads of the schools. This amounts to exploitation of parents and guidance.
The Spectator is, therefore, of the view that, special investigations need to be carried out into such matters. The investigation is very necessary because, the behaviour of these heads amount to defeating the purpose of the free SHS system and also the TVET programme being implemented by government.
It amounts to nothing but sabotage of the government programme of free education at the secondary level. Many parents are not happy about this, so the Ministry of Education together with the Ghana Education Service is expected to act on this issue without delay.
The GES has already directed the heads of institutions to make use of only GES approved prospectus. Failure to do this will attract severe sanctions. We are happy to hear this, so we expect the GES to rigidly apply the sanctions.
The purpose of the free SHS and free TVET is to make it possible for everyone to gain access to education at the secondary level. Saboteurs should, therefore, not be allowed to have their way in this matter.
What the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service can do is to come out with a standard prospectus for all schools. It is true that items like paint may be needed to paint schools from time to time but if these are to be sold selfishly by some of the heads, then we need to take drastic measures against this misbehaviour and disgraceful act.
The system ought to be sanitised at once. If this is not done immediately, the purpose of the free SHS and TVET will be defeated.
Parents are not happy about this so the earlier something is done about the issue, the better it will be for the educational system at the second cycle schools.
Editorial
Merits and demerits of scraping betting tax
Dear Editor,
Over the past years, a lot of concerns have been raised about the rise of sports betting companies in the country, their operations, and how it impacted negatively on the youth of the country.
I have also witnessed how some of the youth go to the extent of borrowing money from friends or use companies’ money to stake bets, which they were not guaranteed of winning.
Due to this, I was happy when the previous government introduced the betting tax, as I felt it would deter the youth from engaging in it.
However, some Ghanaians hold the view that the betting tax would help create employment.
It wasn’t surprising to see the excitement that greeted the announcement of the scrapping of the tax by the Finance Minister.
My worry now is how, as a country, the youth can be discouraged from engaging in betting.
I believe that as the betting tax has been scrapped, it is about time that the government finds ways of addressing the issue of betting among the youth as it is becoming more serious than before.
I believe that there should be a multi-stakeholder engagement between the various stakeholders to proffer solutions to address them.
Editorial
Rail crossing point at circle- Kaneshie road needs attention
Dear Editor,
I read with happiness a letter published in the previous edition about the poor state of the rail crossing stretch of the Circle-Kaneshie road.
I totally agree with the concerns raised by the writer and I wish to add my voice to the call on the authorities to quickly work on that stretch of the road.
What the writer left out was the occasional happenings when vehicles break down on the rail line. I have witnessed that before.
It is not a comfortable thing driving on it at all. It is a huge dent on the beauty the interchange was expected to bring to the area.
The traffic it creates is a major inconvenience to people who are rushing to work.
I wish to appeal to the authorities to quickly do something about that portion of the road to make it convenient for drivers. Thank you for the space.
Maxwell Amamoo,
Odorkor
