GES directs SHS, SHTS Heads not to turn away students over trunks, chop boxes

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has instructed heads of Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools not to deny admission or boarding accommodation to newly enrolled students based on the type of trunks, chop boxes, or other personal storage containers they bring to school. This directive follows complaints that some schools were refusing to house duly admitted students due to the nature of their storage items, which did not meet the individual schools' preferences.

According to a statement from the Deputy Director-General of GES, Professor Mrs Smile Dzisi, such practices could impose undue financial strain on parents and guardians who may not be able to provide alternative storage containers as required by specific schools.

The GES emphasizes that every student admitted to boarding accommodation must be treated equally and accommodated without discrimination based on their economic status or their parents or guardians' ability to purchase a specific type of personal effects. Consequently, Regional Directors have been instructed to inform all heads of Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools to cease turning away or refusing admission to duly admitted students solely on the basis of the storage item they bring.

The GES stipulates that students should be accommodated as long as the storage item is reasonably sized, safe, and does not pose any risk to the health, safety, or well-being of other students.

Furthermore, the service has directed that any case where a duly admitted student is denied accommodation or turned away solely due to the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container should be investigated and reported to the management. The GES warns that any head of an SHS or SHTS who disregards this directive will face consequences as per the applicable standards, regulations, and laws of the Service.

This directive arrives as newly admitted students prepare to report to senior high schools, and parents and guardians are facing various costs related to boarding requirements and other school supplies.