The management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has expressed concern about reports of some heads of second cycle schools collecting admission fees, parent-teacher-association (PTA) dues, and other unauthorised fees from parents/guardians.
It has, therefore, cautioned such heads to cease, with immediate effect, the collection of such unauthorised fees or levies from parents/guardians.
“Heads are reminded that the charging and collection of unauthorised fees and levies are contrary to the government’s policy on free education at the senior high school level,” it said.
“No student or parent/guardian should be compelled, directly or indirectly, to pay admission fees, PTA dues or any other unauthorised fees as a condition for admission, enrolment, and participation in school activities or access to school services,” a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, Daniel Fenyi, said.
It reminded all heads that the matter of collection of PTA dues was pending at the courts, and until the matter was determined by the courts, discussions and collection of PTA dues and levies were still on hold.
Directs
“Management further directs all heads to ensure that any unauthorised fees and levies already collected are refunded and evidence of that refund presented to the GES Management.
“Any person(s) found to be flouting this directive will face the appropriate administrative sanctions, including removal from office,” it emphasised.
The general public, the statement said, was also encouraged to report any such instances of unauthorised fees or levies to management for prompt investigation and the necessary action.
First-year SHS and SHTS students, who were successfully placed under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), began reporting to school for the commencement of the 2026-2027 academic year on September 18, 2026.
Those with issues are still being addressed at resolution centres set up by the Ministry of Education and the GES.
A total of 604,567 Basic Education Certificate Examination graduates qualified for placement into SHSs, SHTSs and technical and vocational institutions across the country.
Of the number, 527,932 candidates were successfully placed at the start of this year’s Computerised School Selection and Placement System.
It meant that approximately 87.3 per cent of qualified candidates had already been placed.
Of the candidates successfully placed, 276,521 are females, and 251,411 are males.
Analysis
An analysis of candidates’ first choice selections showed a considerable concentration of demand in the highly subscribed schools (Category A).
A total of 313,283 candidates selected Category A schools as their first choice, compared with 176,614 for Category B schools, 123,577 for Category C schools, and 995 for participating private SHSs/SHTSs,” he said.
The vacancy data indicated that the system had 859,828 declared vacancies, including 76,417 vacancies in Category A schools, 250,366 in Category B schools, and 468,652 in Category C schools.
Over 53,000 graduates who had Grade 9 in Mathematics or English Language or in both subjects were given a lifeline to enrol in schools by doing self-placement.
