Unapproved fees in public basic school: GES petitioned

Despite free education policy in pre-tertiary government schools in Ghana, some basic schools in Ghana still pay exorbitant fees.

Ghana’s government, under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, introduced the Free Senior High School policy in 2017, aiming to provide accessible education to all. However, it appears that some basic schools in Ghana are undermining this effort by charging excessive fees, leaving many parents struggling to keep their children in school.

Parents in Ghana are facing financial burdens as basic schools charge various fees, including admission fees, PTA dues, extra classes fees, sanitation fees, and stationary/miscellaneous fees. These fees add up to a significant amount, making it difficult for many parents to keep their children in school. The situation is worsened by the fact that some schools punish children whose parents cannot pay these fees, leading to a denial of education for many.

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Several petitions have been submitted to the Education Minister and the Director General of GES, but no action has been taken to address these concerns. Parents are frustrated and feel that their concerns are being ignored.

Examples of Exorbitant Fees

• St. Sylvanus R/C Basic School in Amasaman charges GHc690 for Kindergarten admission, GHc840 for primary admission, and GHc920 for JSS admission.
• Ayawaso Quarry M/A Basic School charges GHc3 per pupil per day for extra classes, GHc50 per pupil per term for PTA dues, and GHc40 per pupil per term for end-of-term exams fees.

The charging of these exorbitant fees defeats the purpose of the Free basic school policy, as many parents cannot afford to pay for their children’s basic education. This leads to a denial of education for many children, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

We urge the government and the relevant authorities to take immediate action to address this issue. Parents should not be forced to pay exorbitant fees for their children’s basic education. We request that the government investigates these concerns and takes necessary steps to ensure that basic education is truly free for all.