The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a strong warning to heads of Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs) against imposing unauthorised charges on parents and guardians.
The directive comes at a time when parents across Ghana are preparing their children and wards for admission into SHSs and SHTSs for the 2026/2027 academic year.
According to the GES, school heads are not permitted to introduce compulsory charges or force parents to purchase particular items through the school when such charges or requirements have not been authorised.
The Service has directed its Regional Directors to communicate the instruction to heads of schools and ensure that it is followed.
GES threatens sanctions against schools that violate directive
The education authorities have made it clear that school heads who disregard the directive could face administrative sanctions.
This means parents and guardians who are asked to make payments or purchase compulsory items should not automatically assume that every demand comes from an official GES requirement.
Parents are therefore encouraged to ask school authorities to clarify the basis of any additional charge before making payment.
Trunks and chop boxes
The warning follows concerns surrounding the items parents are being asked to provide for students reporting to boarding schools.
In a separate directive, GES said newly admitted students should not be turned away or denied boarding accommodation simply because they arrived with a metal trunk or wooden chop box instead of another type of storage container preferred by a particular school.
The Service said students should be treated fairly as long as the storage container is reasonably sized, safe and does not create a risk to the health, safety or welfare of other students.
GES further directed that any case involving a duly admitted student being denied accommodation solely because of the type of trunk, chop box or personal storage container brought to school should be investigated and reported to the Service.
What parents should do
Parents preparing their wards for SHS admission should distinguish between the official national requirements and additional demands that may come from individual schools.
Before paying for items or services, parents can request clarification from the school and verify whether the requirement is contained in the official guidance issued for the 2026/2027 admission exercise.
Parents should also keep receipts and other evidence of payments made to schools, particularly where they are asked to pay charges they were not previously informed about.
A reminder for newly admitted students
The latest directives are particularly relevant as thousands of students begin the process of entering SHS and SHTS for the new academic year.
While students are expected to report with the items required for their particular school and programme, GES has indicated that schools must not use unauthorised requirements to create unnecessary financial pressure on families.
The Service has also warned that school heads who fail to comply with its directives may face sanctions under the applicable GES rules and regulations.
NoticeboardGH will continue to monitor official announcements from the Ghana Education Service and provide updates on SHS admissions, prospectus requirements, school placement and other important information for parents and students.