The Conference of Heads of Second Cycle Schools (CHASS) has raised serious concerns over the growing incidents of indiscipline among students and staff in senior high schools. The association strongly condemned such behaviour and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the welfare and security of all students.
In a communique issued at the end of its 64th Annual National Conference in the Volta Region, CHASS pledged to support appropriate disciplinary measures against any staff member found guilty of misconduct, while ensuring that due process is followed fairly and impartially. The statement was signed by CHASS President, Reverend Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere, and its General Secretary, Mr Primus Baro.
The association also identified persistent delays in the release of inadequate funds as the major challenge facing school heads. This is despite the establishment of a dedicated funding source for the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, an initiative CHASS strongly advocated. CHASS expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations surrounding discrepancies in school data, which it said contributed to the withholding of funds meant for first-year students throughout the 2025/2026 academic year.
The association insisted that such explanations would no longer be accepted and called for the full payment of all outstanding arrears, including legacy recurrent grants owed to schools from 2021 to 2024. According to CHASS, settling these debts would enable schools to repay creditors who had generously supported them over the years.
On emergency procurement, CHASS disclosed that heads of schools had received official authorisation from the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to urgently procure food supplies for students in November and December 2025.
It said the money was yet to be released to pay the suppliers, some of whom were chasing innocent heads for their money. “We request that this is settled without any further delays to relieve Heads of this overwhelming burden,” it said. The communique said the current rate of GH¢2.85 per student per day for perishable items no longer reflected market realities. The same challenge, it said, applied to all items under the recurrent grant.
“We strongly appeal to the Government to upwardly adjust these allocations to align with current economic conditions and to ensure that students are fed with nutritious meals,” it said. On the waiver of VAT on school procurement, CHASS said it was worrying that procurement of perishable food items and other basic academic resources attracted 20 per cent VAT, as insisted by auditors.
“We appeal to government to urgently waive such tax since its incidence is burdening the already woefully inadequate funds,” it said. The heads requested clarity on the government’s policy of decentralised procurement of 40 per cent of essential food items at the school level, as originally proposed, to feed students effectively and impact the local economy. The communique said the supply of tablets to students without charging units was a threat to the safety of school facilities, since unregulated charging of tablets was a probable cause of the rampant fire outbreaks in schools.
CHASS said it had been a year since the government announced the restoration of parent-teacher associations in schools, but legal controversies were affecting their effective operationalisation. It said the longer the impasse prolonged, the more schools and students suffered. “We request that parents/guardians should freely be allowed to exercise their duty of care in the best interest of their wards in the respective schools without let or hindrance,” it said.
The association also noted with grave concern the deteriorating security situation in schools and recommended a shift from the outdated watchman system to the deployment of properly trained, well-equipped and educated security personnel. It further requested the urgent recruitment of critical non-teaching staff to fill existing vacancies. CHASS expressed appreciation to the government for its continuous efforts to advance secondary education and the Free SHS policy.
CHASS commended the government for establishing a dedicated funding source for the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy through the uncapping of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), a move aimed at ensuring adequate resources for the programme. The association also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) for maintaining a stable and uninterrupted academic calendar, particularly the restoration of the pre-COVID-19 school calendar.
It further praised the publication of a new Scheme of Service, which separates the concept of “post” from “rank” within the Ghana Education Service. CHASS also lauded the Minister for Education for organising the National Conference on Stemming the Growing Indiscipline in Schools in July 2026. It particularly welcomed the declaration of a zero-tolerance policy towards violence, bullying and all forms of criminal behaviour in secondary schools.
The association acknowledged the government’s efforts to secure a US$300 million World Bank facility to improve school infrastructure and eliminate the double-track system by 2028. However, it urged the government to accelerate efforts towards achieving the target by constructing new facilities, completing abandoned projects and providing the necessary furniture.
According to CHASS, the transition to a unified single-track academic calendar would significantly reduce operational costs, ease pressure on staff and school infrastructure, and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of the curriculum.
The communique also commended school heads for their exceptional leadership, courage, resilience and sacrifices in managing their institutions despite numerous challenges. It equally recognised the invaluable contributions of teachers, non-teaching staff and other stakeholders in the education sector.
In conclusion, CHASS praised the Minister for Education for assurances to address the challenges confronting senior high schools across the country, particularly the commitment to ending the double-track system and ensuring the timely and regular release of funds to schools.
