Mount Mary Old Students Demand Answers Over Reposting of 9 Teachers.
The alumni association and concerned staff members of Mount Mary Demonstration Roman Catholic (R/C) Junior High School in the Lower Manya Krobo municipality, Eastern Region, are calling for the reinstatement of nine reposted teachers. The demand comes in the wake of what has been described as the use of influence-peddling by the school’s headmaster, Christian Mensah, leading to the transfer of old staff members who sought accountability for collected funds.
In a statement, Mount Mary Demonstration Old Students Association (MOMADOSA) expressed concern over the sudden reposting of nine academic staff members, leading to understaffing issues. President of MOMADOSA, Dr. Gideon Tetteh, outlined a series of issues in a petition titled ‘Bring Back the Nine Reposted Teachers,’ highlighting alleged illegal charges, misuse of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) dues, and embezzlement.
The petition claims that the headmaster charged fees not in line with Ghana Education Service (GES) policy and misused PTA dues. Allegedly, levies for projects like Information Communication Technology (ICT) and a pavilion lacked corresponding developments. Furthermore, the headmaster is accused of charging unauthorized admission fees, daily fees from canteen vendors, and personal gains from the sale of report cards and crests.
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The fallout between the teachers and the headmaster began when some members requested an account of levies collected at a PTA meeting. In response, the headmaster failed to provide the requested accounts. Angered by the lack of accountability, the headmaster threatened to transfer the teachers. Consequently, all nine teachers were reposted effective October 26, 2023.
Two of the transferred teachers, speaking anonymously, challenged the rationale behind the reposting, stating that the Labour Act allows for transfers after five years if services are needed elsewhere but isn’t mandatory. They also lamented the extortion and embezzlement of funds in the school.
The transfer’s impact has led to a halt in academic activities at the school. MOMADOSA, in its petition, sees this as an attempt to tarnish the school’s name and hinder academic performance. The alumni association demands answers and the reinstatement of the reposted teachers, urging parents not to withdraw their wards from the school.
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In response, the headmaster denied influencing the teachers’ transfer but declined to comment on embezzlement charges without approval from the municipal director of education. The director of education explained that the reshuffling of teachers aims to improve academic performance in the municipality, addressing concerns about the impact on Mount Mary.
The Campaign Against Privatisation and Commercialisation of Education (CAPCOE) stated that transferring teachers who have served more than five years isn’t illegal but suggested negotiating to maintain teaching integrity and discipline, urging stakeholder engagement with the Parish Priest, regional manager of Catholic Schools, and the municipality’s Director of Education.
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