Private schools still struggling, in need of support – GNACOPS

The Ghana National Council of Private Schools is appealing to financiers and benevolent entities to come to the aid of private schools across the country which are still wallowing in hardship owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Individuals, philanthropists and other agencies can also come in and support in the area of even coming out with a support scheme. It will be appreciated,” the Executive Director for the Council, Enoch Gyetuah said in an interview with Citi News.

“The bottom line is most of the schools are suffering. The majority of the parents who are supposed to pay their school fees are also in dire need. They don’t have the funds. Any attempt to increase the school fees will even send them away.”

Mr. Gyetuah also said private schools were struggling to pay teachers.

“If you don’t have any physical cash to do all those things, most of the teachers find their way to other places as well,” he added.

In January, the Council said 126 private schools in the country had collapsed because of challenges brought on by the ravaging impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The pandemic necessitated the closure of schools for about 10 months.

According to the council, the Greater Accra Region topped the list with 16 collapsed schools.

It was followed by the Northern Region where 13 schools have become non-operational.

The Ashanti Region came third with 11 closed schools.

The council said the closure of the educational facilities means an average of 37,800 students have been affected due to the unfortunate development.

An average of 2,394 teachers have also become redundant as a result.