GES Orders Heads of Second Cycle Schools to Refund Unauthorized Fees to Fresh Students
GES mandates immediate refund of all illegal fees and levies charged to new students by senior high school heads across Ghana.
The Ghana Education Service, acting on behalf of the government, has issued a direct directive to all heads of second cycle institutions to return every unauthorized fee and levy they collected from newly admitted students. This move comes after numerous complaints from parents and guardians who were forced to pay extra charges beyond the approved admission costs, often under the guise of registration or administrative fees. The Service emphasized that such practices violate existing education regulations and unfairly burden families, especially during this economic period.
School authorities who failed to comply with the refund directive have been warned of serious consequences, including possible sanctions and censure. The GES clarified that only fees officially prescribed by the Service may be charged, and any additional payments made by freshers must be fully reimbursed without delay. This intervention aims to restore confidence in the public education system and protect the rights of students and their families.
Education watchers believe this action will deter future exploitation by school administrators and promote transparency in the enrollment process. The directive applies to all second cycle schools nationwide, reinforcing the GES's role as custodian of quality and equitable access to education in Ghana.
