Senior High Schools in the three regions of the north appeal to gov’t to release feeding grants
The headmaster of Tamale Senior High School (TAMASCO) who is also the chairman of the Conference of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) in the three regions of the north, Mr Shaibu Wilberforce Adam has renewed the appeal to the government for the prompt release of feeding grants to schools in the area to ensure their smooth running.
The schools, he said, have been living from hand to mouth for two consecutive terms now and urged government to look into the feeding grants issue with all seriousness.
Mr. Adam made the appeal at TAMASCO’s 65th anniversary and 22nd speech and prize giving-day celebration at the weekend. The CHASS chairman said, he knows that the money is there but it might have been used for other things but government’s attention should turn to the schools now.
Security: Touching on security in the school, the TAMASCO head master said the school is under siege, adding that every part of the school’s land is being encroached upon and that prompt action is needed to prevent further encroachment.
The school, he added, is exposed to so many criminals such as wee smokers and cyber fraud guys hovering around it due to the open nature of the school. The open nature of the school, he said, emboldened criminals break into three of the school’s teachers’ bungalows.
The school, he noted, should not be used as a thoroughfare to surrounding communities. “Our fence wall has been pushed down several times by people who use it and government and traditional authorities need to intervene immediately before it’s too late because the security of students and authorities is in danger and everyone, especially the parent-teacher association (PTA) needs to intervene,” he said.
“Members of the Assembly God Church were taken hostage one night, which tells you a lot about our insecurity,” the worried TAMASCO headmaster narrated. Other worrying phenomena are that lorry stations and drinking bars, among others, have been set up on the school’s premises.
An abandoned structure located inside the school land has been turned into a wee smoking base. The school authorities are appealing to chiefs to intervene now to save the future leaders.
The old students, however, have resolved to build a metal gate to totally close it. Inadequate accommodation for teachers and dormitories should be considered seriously by the government.
Inadequate Infrastructure
“The massing-up of students in the dormitories is creating inconvenience for teaching and learning. Our buildings are old and weak and need renovation, and if possible, new ones should be built,” the headmaster said
Mr. Wilberforce said TAMASCO appreciates the government’s efforts in constructing new schools, yet much attention should be turned onto the old existing infrastructure.
The school’s current student population including 700 students offered admission in the 2016-2017 academic year, stands at 2,200. The school has not only transformed itself but proud to have produced various talented people currently serving in all sectors of Ghana’s economy and the security agencies.
“The teaching staff stands at 99 competent individuals, while 52 are auxiliary staff. The staff strength,” he said, “does not correspond to the students’ population and this is the result of the temporary ban on recruitment.”
“The school’s academic performance for some time now has dwindled due to indiscipline and truancy that have taken the better part of the modern day students,” Mr. Adam said
It placed 41st out of over thousand schools in Ghana. The school, however, witnessed slight improvement in the 2016 West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Out of 700 students who registered for the exam, 537 qualified to enter into the various tertiary institutions representing 90 percent.