…School Faces Outright Blackout during WASSCE Preparations for Owing ECG ?17,000
After going through weeks of total darkness as a result of getting disconnected from Electricity by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), for non-payment of debts being heaped bills of about GH17, 000, officials from the corridors of Kwahu Ridge Senior High School, At Kwahu Oboo in the Eastern Region, have finally spoken.
According to Mr. Edward Osei Kwakye, the secretary of the school?s Old Students Association, the headmaster of the school, Mr. Aziaka was not to be blamed for recent difficulties confronting the school, but rather government and some recalcitrant parents who refused to pay fees of their wards.
Mr. Kwakye believes the school had suffered a very severe blow for getting their electricity disconnected especially when the just ended West African Examination Council Exams (WASSCE) was ongoing.
He said the school was disconnected from electricity since 17th April until May, and were however compelled to use generators to supply electricity to the students who were then preparing for their exams.?We had to on the generator from 6am to 9pm, even though students required an extension of the time, we could not afford.? Mr. Kwakye added.
He noted, government for the past one year had neglected responsibility of paying fees of students on Government?s scholarship scheme, ?and this also made it very difficult for management to run the school effectively.?
The Old Student?s Association Secretary further explained that the school?s management at a point in time had to dismiss defaulting students from the exams hall, to serve as a deterrent to others but proved futile.
?The school is currently being run with PTA funds, to provide food and other services to the students, and I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Minister of Education, to also as a matter of urgency consider the fact that the school needs financial support to run its affairs ?.the school is currently in its hard times, and the authorities cannot run it well until parents and the government get committed to their obligations.? He further appealed.
Source:?Samuel Ansah Boateng
