GES Orders SHS Heads To Refund Unauthorised Fees

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has instructed heads of senior high and technical schools (SHS/SHTS) to cease collecting admission fees, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fees, and other unauthorized charges from parents and guardians. This directive follows complaints to GES management that some school leaders were charging for these items despite the government's Free Senior High School policy.

In a statement, GES management emphasized that no student or parent should be coerced into paying any admission fees, PTA dues, or other unauthorized charges to gain admission, enroll, participate in school activities, or access school services. The GES also directed heads who had already collected unauthorized fees to refund the money and provide proof of the refunds.

Failure to comply with the directive could result in administrative penalties, including removal from office. The GES requested the public to report cases of unauthorized fees or levies to the organization for investigation and appropriate action. The directive includes admission fees, PTA dues, and any other charges not authorized under the Free SHS policy.

The PTA dues case is currently pending in court, and while the outcome is unresolved, the GES advised heads to stop collecting these dues until the matter is resolved. The GES expressed gratitude to school leaders, directors, parents, and other stakeholders for their cooperation in enforcing the policy.