The Bolgatanga Municipal Chapter of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has appealed to government to expedite action in releasing to them financial support under the stimulus package for small and medium scale businesses to enable them pay the salaries of their staff.
According to the Association, teaching staff of its member institutions have not been paid since April 2020 due to the Covid-19 induced shutdown of schools. They have therefore called on government to fast-track processes for the disbursement of the stimulus package promised them as part of interventions to cushion businesses against the adverse effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
It asserts that since the announcement of the intervention which was made in March this year by government, sufficient steps have not been taken to ensure the disbursement of the stimulus package to its members who have been home since March without remuneration.
The group indicated that the living conditions of its members have worsened as a result of the closure of schools and the failure to fast-track processes to ensure the disbursement of the stimulus package.
While commending government for the provision of daily hot meals for students and staff of Junior High Schools including private schools, it wants government and the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) to fast-track the process of disbursing the funds of the package to help alleviate the plight of its members.
The Association is also appealing to government to ensure the provision of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for its members.
“We cease this window of opportunity to appeal to government and the appropriate authorities to expedite action on the disbursement process which currently is the only life line for the teaming facilitators and families of Ghana Association of Private Schools who have been home since March, 2020 to be financially supported. It is befitting to swiftly alleviate the plight of Private Schools with the promised stimulus package as well as adequate PPE’s,” the Association said in a statement signed by its Chairman Chris Akuba said.
On the provision of the daily hot for students and staff of JHS, it is calling on government to ensure the distribution of the meals through the private school feeding system.
It argues that the feeding systems in the private schools are efficient and would ensure the distribution of quality food to the students without challenges.
After the country recorded its first case of the Coronavirus pandemic on March 12, President Akuf-Addo on Sunday, March 15, 2020 announced the imposition of restrictions on public and social gatherings including the closure of schools as part of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The government later announced a 1.2 billion cedis Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) as part of measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on businesses and households. The programme is administered by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI).
600 million cedis out of the 1.2 billion was dedicated to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Private schools like other businesses which have been hit by the impact of the pandemic induced measures were encouraged by the government to apply for the fund in order to pay stipends of workers. The schools have since applied for the fund.
