Source Ghanapressroom
Education News Ghana
GES Introduces New Financial Obligations for SHS Students
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The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced new financial responsibilities for parents of incoming Senior High School (SHS) students for the 2024/2025 academic year.
The directive, issued under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, marks a significant policy shift from the previous Free Senior High School initiative introduced during the tenure of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The new directive was first made public on X (formerly Twitter) by a user identified as Diabolic, who shared excerpts of an official GES circular dated June 24, 2025. The document outlines detailed cost obligations that parents must now cover—including the purchase of school uniforms and other essential items that were previously supplied at no cost under the Free SHS program.
According to the statement, parents are required to pay for two sets of school uniforms at GH¢180.00, two house dresses at GH¢150.00, and one set of school cloth at GH¢100.00. These costs are now to be borne directly by parents or guardians during student enrollment and resumption.
The GES explained that the move is part of a broader effort to streamline the management of educational resources, improve accountability, and ensure that schools comply with existing procurement and financial laws.
Regional Education Directors have been instructed to communicate the directive to all heads of senior high schools and to supervise the procurement processes in accordance with the Public Procurement Act and the Public Financial Management Act.
School heads have also been directed to ensure that all purchases correspond strictly to verified student enrollment numbers to prevent excess procurement and waste. In addition, the GES provided a sample contract agreement to guide heads of institutions in implementing the directive appropriately and transparently.
The new circular officially cancels an earlier communication issued on June 19, 2025, signaling the government’s commitment to a new financial framework for managing supplies in public secondary schools. The document emphasizes the urgency of compliance, urging all regional directors and school heads to treat the matter as a priority and ensure immediate execution.
While the GES has not released an official statement explaining the broader policy rationale, the directive has already sparked discussions among parents and education stakeholders. Some see the decision as a necessary measure to reduce financial strain on government resources and promote shared responsibility between the state and families. Others, however, view it as a step backward from the principles of the Free SHS policy, which aimed to eliminate financial barriers to secondary education.
Education analysts note that the policy shift reflects a changing approach to education financing under the Mahama administration, possibly signaling a gradual reintroduction of partial cost-sharing to sustain educational quality amid fiscal constraints.
Read the full statement below
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