GES cracks down on illegal school fees: SHS heads warned of sanctions for unauthorised charges

The Ghana Education Service has issued a firm directive ordering all Senior High School and Senior High Technical School heads to cease imposing unauthorised charges and mandatory purchases on parents and guardians, with stern warnings of administrative sanctions for non-compliance.

In a statement released on Friday, 18 September, the GES revealed that it had received multiple reports of school leaders requiring parents to purchase items directly from their institutions, including school uniforms, trunks, chop boxes, cutlasses and other supplies. These practices, the Service stressed, violate established guidelines that govern student admissions and official school requirements.

What the GES is demanding

The directive requires all school heads to strictly adhere to approved guidelines and immediately halt any unauthorised charges or compulsory purchases. The Service has made clear that deviation from official requirements is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The GES has warned that any school head found violating this instruction will face severe administrative sanctions under GES regulations. This warning extends responsibility to school authorities to protect parents from being subjected to payments or purchases outside officially approved channels.

To ensure the directive reaches all institutions, the GES has tasked Regional Directors across the country with communicating the instruction to every secondary school within their jurisdictions and monitoring strict compliance.

Why it matters for Ghana

This crackdown addresses a long-standing concern affecting thousands of Ghanaian families. Unauthorised school charges place significant financial strain on parents and guardians, particularly those from lower-income households who struggle to meet legitimate educational costs. Such practices can push families into deeper poverty and, in some cases, prevent qualified students from attending school altogether.

The issue is particularly acute during admission periods when parents are most vulnerable to pressure from school authorities. By enforcing this directive, the GES aims to protect families from exploitation and ensure that access to secondary education is not hindered by unofficial levies. This aligns with Ghana's commitment to making education affordable and accessible to all citizens, regardless of economic background.

The intervention also reflects broader efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the education sector. When school leaders operate outside approved guidelines, it undermines public trust in institutions and creates an uneven playing field where resourced families comply whilst others struggle. By establishing clear consequences for offending heads, the GES sends a signal that such behaviour will not be overlooked.

Implementation and expected outcomes

The success of this directive will depend largely on how effectively Regional Directors monitor compliance and how quickly school heads implement the order. Parents who encounter unauthorised charges are encouraged to report such incidents to their Regional Education Directorate or the GES directly.

• School heads must stop forcing parents to buy items like uniforms, trunks and cutlasses from school suppliers
• Violations will result in severe administrative sanctions against school leaders under GES regulations
• Regional Directors will oversee compliance across all secondary schools in their areas