The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed an immediate investigation into reports that some senior high schools are charging students for services that are supposed to be free.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, April 8, the Minister responded to complaints that certain schools were collecting fees for Ghana Education Service-approved online classes. A message to the programme alleged that some schools were charging as much as GH₵609 under the guise of PTA fees for these services.
Mr Iddrisu described the charges as unlawful and assured that swift action would be taken. “Those are unlawful charges that the Director-General of Ghana Education Service will investigate, and appropriate sanctions will be applied,” he stated.
He added that he had already summoned the GES Director-General to address the issue urgently, stressing that the matter would be dealt with immediately.
The Minister also addressed concerns over the distribution of tablets intended to support online learning. While acknowledging complaints that some students had not received the devices, he suggested the situation might be isolated, noting that distribution has largely been completed nationwide. He added that the president of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools had confirmed receipt of the tablets.
To strengthen monitoring and enforcement, particularly for students preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Mr Iddrisu announced plans to establish a technical committee. The committee will include representatives from CHASS and parents to ensure broader oversight and accountability.
The Minister further highlighted ongoing infrastructure challenges in the education sector, especially following the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy. He noted that rapid increases in enrolment have not been matched by corresponding expansion in facilities, leading to overcrowding in many schools.
“To address this, Ghana has secured $300 million in funding from the World Bank, with implementation expected to begin in July,” he revealed. The funding, alongside support from the GETFund, is expected to improve infrastructure and expand capacity across the country’s schools.
