Accra, June 21, GNA- The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced a ban on post-examination flamboyant celebrations on school premises.
Heads of schools who allowed the practice on their campuses would be sanctioned, a statement issued on Saturday said.
The statement, signed by Mr Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations, said Management of the GES had observed with concern an emerging trend of parents and guardians engaging in flamboyant celebration of their children’s completion of senior high school.
“Such opulent displays are characterised by the presentation of expensive gifts such as motor vehicles and money bouquets to their children or wards on school premises,” it said.
“While management is not against the practice of parent and guardians celebrating achievement of their children or wards, management is against the practice of such ostentatious display by parents on school premises.”
It said in order to ensure that “this practice does not gain roots in the school culture, Management wished to inform the public that, henceforth, post-examination celebrations characterised by lavish presentation of items such as motor vehicles to students are prohibited on school premises.”
It said sanctions would be imposed on heads of schools who allowed the practice on their campuses.
The statement noted that schools were designed to promote social equalizers where merit and personal efforts took priority over economic status.
“Ostentatious displays of wealth by parents on school premises create visible socio-economic divisions, shift the focus from academic achievement to financial privilege…”
“This can foster psychological distress among students whose parents are not able to compete in such flamboyant celebration,” it added.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Joyce Danso