No importation, contract given for new uniforms – GES

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has denied awarding any contract for the production of school uniforms.

The Textiles Workers Union yesterday raised concerns about the alleged importation of the new uniforms introduced by the Ghana Education Service stating that the move makes no sense.

But GES reacting to the development in a press statement signed by the Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the GES, Cassandra Twum-Ampofo said: "Management of GES wishes to make it clear that the story is baseless and has no merit whatsoever. The GES wishes to state that it has not imported, neither, has it contracted any individual, locally or internationally to bring in new uniforms for the Junior High Schools.”

It would be recalled that in April this year, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service introduced a sample of the new uniform and its design to the media.

The Director-General urged parents to access these clothes from the open market as it has been the case with the current uniform.

The new uniform was however greeted with criticisms as some said it was a misplaced priority and an unnecessary economic burden on parents.

Meanwhile, GES in its statement said: "it must be noted that the school uniform is not compulsory. It will be phased out over a period and no student will be prevented from attending school when the 2019/2020 academic year begins in September, urging the general public to disregard the erroneous publication."