The Ghana Education Service (GES) has instructed all Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs) to stop denying boarding accommodation to admitted students based on the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container they bring to school.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 18, GES said the directive was prompted by reports that some schools had refused to accommodate newly admitted students because their metal trunks, wooden chop boxes, or other storage containers did not meet school-specific requirements.
According to the Service, such practices impose unnecessary financial burdens on parents and guardians, particularly those who may not be able to afford replacement containers or purchase specific brands demanded by certain schools.
GES emphasised that all admitted boarding students must be treated fairly and should not face discrimination because of their economic background or their parents’ and guardians’ ability to buy particular personal items. It therefore directed Regional Directors to communicate the policy to all school heads and ensure that no duly admitted student is denied admission or boarding facilities solely on the basis of the storage container they possess.
The Service, however, clarified that trunks, chop boxes, and other storage containers must be of a reasonable size, safe for use, and should not pose any risk to the health, safety, or well-being of other students. It further directed that any reported case in which a duly admitted student is turned away or denied accommodation solely because of the type of storage container they brought to school must be investigated and reported to GES Management. Heads of SHSs and SHTSs who fail to comply with this directive may face appropriate action in accordance with the applicable standards, regulations, and laws governing the Ghana Education Service.
