The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a strong warning to headmasters and school administrators, stating that any school official who permits lavish post-examination celebrations on school premises risks being removed from office.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, June 22, the Director-General of the GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, clarified that the Service is not opposed to parents and guardians celebrating the academic achievements of their children. However, he stressed that extravagant displays within school environments are unacceptable.
“Management is not against the practice of parents and guardians celebrating the achievements of their children; management is against the practice of such ostentatious displays by parents on school premises,” Prof. Davis stated.
According to him, although school traditions and cultures continue to evolve, such extravagant celebrations do not align with the values the GES seeks to promote.
“While we appreciate that school culture evolves, we wish to state that this is not a kind of school culture the Service and many guardians support,” he added.
Prof. Davis announced that with immediate effect, post-examination celebrations involving the presentation of expensive gifts, including motor vehicles, to students are strictly prohibited on school campuses.
“In order to ensure that this practice does not gain roots in school culture, management wishes to inform the general public that henceforth post-examination celebrations characterised by lavish presentation of items, such as motor vehicles to students, are prohibited on school premises,” he said.
He noted that parents who wish to reward or celebrate their children in such ways are free to do so outside school grounds and in private settings.
The directive follows instructions from the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who ordered the GES to ban all flamboyant post-examination celebrations and graduation ceremonies until further notice.
“Following the directive by the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, all post-examination flamboyant celebrations and graduation ceremonies are banned until further notice,” Prof. Davis said.
He further cautioned that school heads who fail to enforce the directive will face sanctions.
“Heads of schools who allow post-examination flamboyant celebrations and the organisation of graduation ceremonies on their campuses will be sanctioned,” he warned.
Regional directors across the country have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the new policy.
Prof. Davis explained that the measure is intended to preserve fairness and equality within the educational system.
“We believe that schools are designed to serve as social equalisers where merit and personal effort take priority over economic status,” he stated.
