The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed heads of Senior High Schools (SHS) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS) to immediately stop collecting unauthorised fees and levies from students, parents and guardians.
The directive follows reports received by the GES that some school heads have been demanding admission fees, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues and other charges from parents and guardians despite the government’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
In a statement dated September 23, 2026, and signed by the Head of Public Relations at the GES, Daniel Fenyi, the Service cautioned all heads of SHS and SHTS to cease the collection of such fees and levies with immediate effect.
GES directs schools to refund unauthorised fees
Beyond stopping the collection of unauthorised charges, the Ghana Education Service has instructed school heads to refund any such fees or levies that have already been collected from parents or guardians.
The school authorities have also been directed to submit evidence of the refunds to GES management as proof that the directive has been complied with.
The GES said the charging and collection of unauthorised fees are contrary to government policy on free education at the senior high school level.
It stressed that no student or parent should be compelled, either directly or indirectly, to pay admission fees, PTA dues or other unauthorised charges as a condition for admission, enrolment, participation in school activities or access to school services.
PTA dues remain on hold
The GES also addressed the issue of Parent-Teacher Association dues, clarifying that the matter is currently before the courts.
According to the Service, discussions and the collection of PTA dues and levies remain on hold until the court determines the matter.
This means school authorities are not permitted to make PTA payments a requirement for students to gain admission, participate in school activities or access services provided by their schools.
School heads to face sanctions for non-compliance
The Ghana Education Service has warned that school heads and other officials who fail to comply with the directive could face administrative sanctions.
The sanctions could include removal from office, underscoring the seriousness with which GES is treating reports of unauthorised fee collection in public senior high and technical schools.
The Service has also appealed to parents, guardians and members of the public to report instances where schools demand unauthorised fees or levies.
Such reports, GES said, will be investigated and appropriate action taken against schools or officials found to have breached the directive.
GES reiterates commitment to Free SHS
The latest directive reinforces the government’s position that students and their parents should not be subjected to unauthorised financial demands as a condition for accessing public senior high school education.
Earlier in May 2026, the GES stated that it had not authorised schools to charge fees from students or parents under any name or form. The Service at the time urged members of the public to report schools demanding payments, including alleged feeding fees, for investigation.
The September directive therefore places renewed emphasis on compliance by school authorities and provides parents with a clear basis for challenging unauthorised charges.
GES has urged school heads, directors and parents to cooperate in ensuring that the directive is fully implemented across Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools in Ghana.
