Parents of Students in Category 'A' SHS Required to Pay Fees

ODASCO Headmaster Proposes Fee Model for Category ‘A’ SHS Students

Eric Amoah, the newly appointed headmaster of Oda Senior High School (ODASCO), has put forward a proposal that would require parents of students attending Category ‘A’ Senior High Schools (SHS) from next year to bear the full cost of their children’s education. In contrast, he recommended that parents of students in Category ‘B’ schools contribute partially, covering specific costs such as accommodation and feeding, while students in Category ‘C’ schools would continue to benefit entirely from the free SHS policy.

Mr. Amoah, who also serves as the National President of the Agriculture Teachers Association of Ghana, presented this proposal during an induction ceremony in his honor at Akyem Oda last Friday. The event marked his official appointment as the 12th headmaster of ODASCO, a school with a long history of academic excellence.

While acknowledging that his proposal may seem controversial to some, Mr. Amoah emphasized the potential benefits of implementing such a model. According to him, the funds generated from Category ‘A’ schools would be used to improve and develop Category ‘B’ and Category ‘C’ schools, thus ensuring that all institutions receive equal attention in terms of infrastructure and educational resources. Mr. Amoah suggested that, under this system, every year, three Category ‘B’ schools excelling in academics and discipline, with the appropriate infrastructure, should be promoted to Category ‘A’ status.

“The idea behind this is to encourage more schools to work toward achieving Category ‘A’ status, rather than maintaining a small number of ‘A’ schools indefinitely,” Mr. Amoah explained. He pointed out that the same approach could be applied across all school categories to ensure widespread improvement in the overall educational system.

He further noted that the system would make students’ choices of school dependent on their parents’ financial ability to pay. This, he argued, would create an environment where schools are incentivized to improve and offer better facilities, benefiting students across the board.

Promoting Agricultural Education in Schools

In addition to his education-related proposals, Mr. Amoah also appealed for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Education. He suggested that schools with arable land be provided with the necessary support, including inputs and labor, to engage in large-scale farming projects. These projects, he argued, would contribute to the school feeding program and serve as practical learning opportunities to inspire students’ interest in agriculture.

As the lead writer of the Agricultural Science section of the new curriculum, as well as the President of the Agriculture Teachers Association of Ghana, Mr. Amoah also raised concerns about the rapid implementation of the new SHS curriculum. He urged President John Dramani Mahama to proceed cautiously with the curriculum’s introduction, warning that a rushed rollout could exacerbate existing challenges within the educational system.

ODASCO’s Commitment to Academic Excellence

At the heart of his address, Mr. Amoah highlighted the initiatives being taken at ODASCO to improve academic performance. Through a partnership with the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), the school has introduced Saturday intervention classes, which run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. These classes aim to help students achieve better academic outcomes by offering additional support outside regular school hours.

Mr. Amoah also pointed out that there is currently no Category ‘A’ SHS within the Akyemansa enclave. However, he expressed his strong determination to elevate ODASCO to Category ‘A’ status before the school celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2030. This ambitious goal reflects his commitment to enhancing the school’s infrastructure and academic standing.

Support from Local Leadership

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, who is also an alumnus of ODASCO, pledged his full support to the school’s development. He shared that he had personally funded the reroofing of the girls’ dormitory block, which had previously suffered significant damage during a storm.

The induction ceremony, which celebrated Mr. Amoah’s appointment, was co-chaired by Very Rev. Solomon Kwame Gyamerah, the Principal of the Methodist College of Education, and Dr. Jones Baah-Abekah, the Principal of the Oda Community Health Training College. The event attracted numerous dignitaries, demonstrating widespread community support for Mr. Amoah and the school’s future direction.

With strong backing from local leadership and an ambitious vision for the future, Mr. Amoah is poised to lead ODASCO to new heights, ensuring that the school plays a central role in the educational development of the region.