'Don't charge beyond approved prospectus' – GES warns SHS heads over illegal fees

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a warning to heads of Senior High Schools, reminding them not to charge parents and students for items or services that are not included in the officially approved school prospectus under the Free SHS policy.

Daniel Fenyi, the Head of Public Relations at GES, emphasised that schools do not have the authority to request money or materials outside what has been formally approved.

He stated, “No school has been permitted to demand money or items outside the approved prospectus,” and added that any such practices violate GES directives.

According to a report by adomonline.com on May 8, 2026, these comments were made in response to complaints from parents indicating that some schools still request additional items, such as paint, padlocks, bulbs, markers, and other materials, despite the Free SHS initiative.

Parents expressed to Adom News that although education is intended to be free, they are still being asked to provide or pay for various items that are presented as compulsory requirements.

This situation has sparked renewed debate about what the Free SHS program truly covers, especially as families face rising living costs.

Fenyi clarified that the approved prospectus serves as the only legitimate guide for the items that students are expected to provide.

He explained that in situations where schools encounter genuine hardships, support should be sought through voluntary contributions from Parent-Teacher Associations or alumni, rather than through mandatory demands on parents.

“Anything outside the approved prospectus is not sanctioned by GES,” he reiterated.

While stakeholders recognize that some schools face funding and infrastructure challenges, GES maintains that such issues do not justify non-compliance with the approved guidelines.

The Service is urging parents to report any school that demands unauthorised items or payments for further investigation and potential sanctions.

NAD/AM

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