GES Warns SHS Heads Over Unauthorized Fees and Student Rejection Due to Storage Containers

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a stern warning to the heads of Senior High and Technical Schools across the country, mandating an immediate end to unauthorized charges and the discriminatory treatment of students. In a directive signed by Deputy Director-General Prof. Smile Dzisi on September 18, 2023, the service emphasized that no student should be denied admission or accommodation based on the specific type of storage container they bring to school, nor should parents be forced to pay unapproved fees for school supplies.

The GES directive specifically targets illegal fees being levied on parents for items such as uniforms, metal trunks, and cutlasses. Prof. Dzisi's communication makes it clear that such practices are a violation of approved government guidelines and must cease with immediate effect. School heads found to be imposing these extra-budgetary requirements on families risk facing severe administrative sanctions, as the service seeks to maintain the accessibility and fairness of the public education system.

Beyond financial charges, the service also addressed reports of schools turning away students who arrive with certain types of personal storage, such as wooden chop boxes instead of metal trunks. The GES has now mandated that schools must accommodate all admitted students fairly, regardless of whether they possess specific brands or styles of containers. This move is designed to alleviate the undue financial burden often placed on parents during the admission process and to prevent any form of discrimination against students from less privileged backgrounds.

To ensure strict compliance, Regional Directors of Education have been instructed to communicate these directives to all relevant institutions within their jurisdictions. The GES has stated that any reported violations will be investigated and dealt with according to existing regulations. This policy enforcement serves as a broader effort to streamline the admission process and protect parents from exploitation during the transition of students into second-cycle institutions.