GES Issues Stern Warning to SHS Heads Over Unauthorized Fees and Compulsory PTA Dues

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a stern warning to heads of Senior High Schools (SHS) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS) nationwide, ordering an immediate halt to the collection of unauthorized fees. This directive follows reports of school administrators demanding payments from parents and guardians of newly admitted first-year students, a practice that the GES asserts directly contradicts the government’s free education policy. As the 2026 academic year commences, the GES management emphasizes that no student should be denied entry or burdened by financial demands outside the approved national framework.

Central to this warning is the collection of admission fees and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues. The GES clarified that parents and guardians must not be compelled to pay these charges as a condition for enrollment. Notably, the service reminded school heads that the legality and collection of PTA dues are currently the subject of an ongoing judicial review, making any forced collection particularly problematic under current regulations. The management has explicitly mandated that any school head who has already collected such unauthorized funds must refund them to the parents immediately to avoid further conflict.

The crackdown comes as a significant wave of students begins their secondary education journey. According to GES data, 87.3% of qualified candidates have been successfully placed in various institutions for the current cycle, with students officially reporting to their assigned schools as of September 18, 2026. To ensure compliance with the directive, the GES has signaled that it will not hesitate to apply administrative sanctions against heads of schools who ignore these instructions. This move is intended to protect the integrity of the free SHS program and ensure that financial barriers do not hinder the progress of the thousands of newly placed students.

Ultimately, this directive serves as a reminder of the government’s commitment to maintaining the affordability and accessibility of secondary education in Ghana. By addressing these unauthorized fees, the GES aims to alleviate the financial pressure typically felt by families during the admission season. Parents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any instances of extortion or unauthorized billing to the relevant educational authorities. As the academic term progresses, the GES says it will continue to monitor school heads' adherence to these policy guidelines to ensure a smooth transition for all first-year students.