The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed heads of second-cycle institutions who collected unauthorised fees or levies from newly admitted students to refund the money with immediate effect. The GES said demanding or collecting unauthorised payments from parents and guardians as a condition for enrolling fresh students was contrary to the principles of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
Speaking at a press briefing following widespread complaints about some senior high school heads demanding items and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levies before admitting new students, GES Director-General Professor Ernest Kofi Davis issued a strong warning to school authorities. “I, therefore, wish to state clearly that any head of school who has collected money from students or their parents without proper authorisation must refund them,” Prof. Davis said.
He added that school heads who allowed third parties to collect such payments on school premises would also face disciplinary action. “Any head of school that allows such money to be collected by a third party within the school premises will also be punished severely within the rules and regulations of the service,” he warned.
Prof. Davis stressed that the GES would not allow the actions of a few individuals to undermine the Free SHS policy, which has widened access to secondary education for thousands of Ghanaian children. “We will not allow the actions of a few individuals to undermine a policy that has expanded access to secondary education for thousands of Ghanaian children,” he affirmed.
According to the GES Director-General, the Free SHS policy was introduced to eliminate financial barriers to secondary education and ensure that no child is denied access because their parents or guardians cannot afford certain fees. “Any conduct by a school head that undermines this objective will not be tolerated. Let me be unequivocal: this worrying trend must stop,” Prof. Davis stated.
He disclosed that the GES had received reports alleging that some heads of schools were demanding and collecting various forms of payments from parents and guardians as part of the admission process. The GES management has consequently directed all affected school heads to immediately stop collecting unauthorised fees and levies, reminding them that such practices violate the government’s Free SHS policy. Prof. Davis also urged parents and guardians who encounter such demands to report the matter to the GES through its district, regional or headquarters offices.
Academic calendar
For the first time in approximately six years, he stated, “We have reached a point where students across various levels of our education system reported to school during the month of September.” This achievement did not occur by chance; it was the result of hard work. We are now witnessing a return to a more predictable and synchronised academic calendar, allowing parents and other stakeholders to plan accordingly,” said Prof. Davis.
He commended all contributors to this progress, particularly teachers and school heads, emphasising the importance of maintaining stability to ensure that future academic years begin and proceed according to a consistent calendar. “We are committed to safeguarding the gains we have made and ensuring that the academic calendar remains stable, predictable, and conducive to effective teaching and learning,” Prof. Davis added.
Regarding the strike declaration by pre-tertiary teacher unions, he mentioned that the GES supports the Ministry of Education’s appeal to teachers to reconsider their decision, “as we work diligently to address their concerns.” He also noted that the GES management worked hard to streamline the promotion process for teachers last year, stating, “You can trust us to deliver the same this year as well.”
