National Council of PTAs disappointed with Second Lady

daniel russell

July 17, 2015 9:29 AM

While presenting five computers to Kukurantumi Presby Primary School, wife of the Vice President, blatantly denied an appeal from the headmistress of the school to provide basic inputs like chalk and log books.

Second Lady, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur

The National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) has expressed “great shock and dismay” with the Second Lady’s reported rebuke of a headmistress.

Ghana’s Second Lady, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur’s outburst followed a request made by the headmistress of Kukurantumi Presby Primary School, Juliet Oppong that the government should among other things, provide her school with chalks after the second lady presented five sets of computers to the school.

Mrs Amissah-Arthur lamented the over-reliance of parents on government’s free school uniforms, saying that government had “spoilt” parents by providing school uniforms which had now made some reluctant to provide for their children.

“I think we have over pampered you people. Because we have provided free school uniforms so parents don’t even want to buy basic things for their children.

“I will not give you chalk today, neither will I give it to you tomorrow. You have teachers; you have the PTA, go and buy chalk for the school.

“The head teacher has shocked me. So if the government has provided free school uniforms and it is not up to the number your school needs, can’t you look for other alternatives to provide these items?

“You also mentioned that your school does not have chalk, log books; all these are not expensive. The government provides all these teaching and learning materials but sometimes, it is not enough for all the schools across the country,” the second lady said.

But the National Council of PTAs, in a statement signed by National President Mr Alexander Danso said Mrs Amissah-Arthur “did not speak well” and must apologise to the headmistress, parents and Ghanaians in general.

According to them, the provision of basic teaching and learning inputs is widely believed to be the responsibility of government and Ghanaian parents had also not requested government to provide school uniforms.

“It is the government’s own decision to do so and if it is becoming a burden, and cannot continue further this project, then she should back out rather than allowing… officials to insult the dignity of Ghanaian parents,” the statement said.

daniel russell