Some teachers in the Ashanti region have asked the government to provide them with additional allowances if it intends extending closing hours of schools.

“School closes too early in this country. At 2:00 pm, parents from farms are not back and parents working at the public service are not back from work, so why can’t schools close at 4:00 pm,” he said at the National Education Sector Review forum held in Accra recently.

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The Minister also said that an extension of closing hours will be favourable for working parents and guardians and will also improve the standard of education in the country.

But his comments have attracted a mixed reaction from parents and guardians.

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Scores of teachers in the Ashanti region have, however, welcomed the idea but are demanding for extra allowances.

A statement from the Assistant Directors of Education said that teachers may require the services of others to pick up their children from private schools where they close by 2 pm and take care of them in their absence.

They believe that extending closing hours without the adequate allowances will render teachers as babysitters.

The statement further asked the government to ensure that the free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) is enforced to prevent basic schools from taking fees from the pupils.