GES Warns Against Illegal Collection Of Levies And Fees In Schools

The Ghana Education Service says it has received several complaints about schools charging illegal fees and levies from students warning such practices are illegal.

In a statement signed by the Director-General of the GES, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, heads of schools were told they would be sanctioned if they do not desist from such practices.

“Heads and school authorities are cautioned to strictly desist from collecting any unauthorized and or illegal charges under the guise of ‘final years students clearance system.’ Anyone who breaches this directive will be sanctioned,” the statement said.

According to the GES, it has received several complaints about school authorities levying final year students Parent Teacher Association (PTA) dues and other charges, as part of their clearance system.

“Management of GES wishes to state categorically that under no circumstance should any school authority use the payment of PTA levies or any other unauthorized charges as part of the clearance system for final year students,” warned the GES.

The statement said that as a rule, the schools are only allowed to surcharge students for the destruction or defacing of school properties and that even such payments have been set for the schools by the GES.

“Regional Directors are expected to act expeditiously to interdict any Head of School or official who is established to be involved in illegal collection of levies and conduct full investigations into the matter and submit a report to the Director-General for further action,” the statement said.