The Education Ministry has been urged by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to delay the January 03, 2025 date scheduled for reopening of schools.
The Conference says the date should hold until all financial obligations to schools and suppliers are fully honoured.
A letter addressed to the Ministry Friday, December 20, 2024, CHASS insisted that the persistent financial challenges confronting the schools has hampered their operations due to the government’s arrears to them.
It warned that the reopening process would be affected if government fails to pay the arrears before the January 03.
The letter also referenced earlier correspondences, dated August 12, 2024, and September 20, 2024, and reiterated the Minister of Education’s commitment during a December 18, 2024, Zoom meeting to release funds necessary for the effective operation of schools.
CHASS, however, expressed disappointment indicating that the recent disbursement made to the schools could not solve the critical issues they are facing.
These critical issues include; unpaid recurrent funds owed to schools, outstanding arrears for perishable items, exclusion of single-track and day schools from the recent funding allocation, lack of funds to transport food supplies from distribution centers to schools and unpaid utility bills threatening essential services.
The Conference therefore called on the government to immediately release the funds to address the challenges saying that the failure to do so will hamper the effective operation of the schools.
“We believe these funds are critical for the successful reopening of schools. Without them, heads of schools will face overwhelming challenges in managing daily operations and ensuring the welfare of students,” portions of the statement said.
