Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – The Ghana Education Service (GES) has asked all heads of schools to stop the unauthorised collection of fees or levies from parents and guardians.
The Management of the GES said it had received with concern, reports of some heads of Senior High Schools (SHS) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS) collecting admission fees, Parents-Teacher Association (PTA) dues, and other unauthorised levies from parent and guardians.
“Management, hereby, strongly cautions all heads of SHS/SHTS to cease, with immediate effect, the collection of such unathorised fees or levies from parents/guardians,” it said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday.
Signed by Mr Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations, GES, the statement reminded all heads of schools that “charging and collection of unauthorised fees and levies are contrary to the Government’s policy on free education at the Senior High School level.”
“No parent/guardian should be compelled to, directly or indirectly, 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.”
It reminded heads of schools that the matter of collecting PTA dues was pending at the court and until that was determined, discussions and collection of PTA dues and levies were still on hold.
The statement urged all heads of schools to ensure that all unauthorised fees and levies already collected were refunded and evidence of those refunds presented to management of the GES.
“Any person(s) found to be flouting this directive will face the appropriate administrative sanctions, including removal from office,” the statement said.
It encouraged the public to report any such instances to the authorities for prompt investigations and necessary action.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Joyce Danso