Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned schools across the country against charging any form of unauthorised fees to students and parents, insisting that no approval has been granted for such collections under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
In a statement, the GES said it had not “authorised or sanctioned any school to charge fees—under any name or in any form—from students or parents,” and urged the public to disregard claims suggesting otherwise.
The Service described reports of schools allegedly demanding feeding fees from students as unlawful, stressing that any institution found engaging in the practice would be acting without the approval of management.
According to the GES, government remains fully committed to sustaining and improving the Free SHS programme and will not tolerate attempts to undermine the policy through misinformation or the imposition of illegal charges.
“Any attempt to undermine this policy—whether through the spread of false information or through clandestinely imposing fees on students—will be treated as an act contrary to national interest,” the statement said.
GES further encouraged parents and students who are asked to pay feeding fees or any unauthorised charges to report the matter to the Service for investigation and possible sanctions.
The statement comes amid growing public concerns and allegations that some schools may be imposing additional financial burdens on students despite government’s continued assurance that Free SHS remains intact.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
