MoE warns SHS heads over ‘denying’ first-year students admission
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has cautioned headteachers of various Senior High Schools (SHSs) under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme against denying admission to students who have been duly placed in their schools.
The Education Minister speaking at the 32nd Annual Conference of Directors of Education held in Sunyani, in the Bono Region, also cautioned the head of schools against charging students unapproved fees.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu’s warning follows reports that some second-cycle school heads are frustrating the enrollment of first-year students and engaging in acts of extortion, particularly charging Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) fees.
The Education Minister described such practices as unacceptable and detrimental to the government’s vision of providing equitable access to free and quality education for all Ghanaian children.
He emphasized that every student placed through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) must be admitted without discrimination or additional financial demands beyond the officially approved fees.
Mr Haruna, citing discipline, transparency, and fairness in the education sector, cautioned that any headteacher found guilty of misconduct will face appropriate administrative and legal sanctions.
He also called on Directors of Education to step up monitoring efforts and ensure strict compliance with the Ministry’s directives to guarantee a smooth and fair admission process for all first-year students nationwide.
Relatedly, the Free Senior High School Secretariat has also cautioned heads of Senior High Schools against rejecting students who have been officially placed in their schools, warning that any school found culpable will be publicly named and reported to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for sanctions.
The Secretariat warning follows numerous complaints from parents that some schools had refused to admit their wards, claiming the students’ names were not on their admission lists, despite verification at the placement centre confirming their legitimacy.
In an interview, the Deputy Coordinator of the Free Senior High School Secretariat, Dr. Belinda Glover, expressed concern over the development, stressing that each placement corresponds to available spaces declared by the schools.
“Some parents come around saying they went to some schools and were turned away because their names were not on the list. Meanwhile, when they came here, their names were indeed on the list. So we are pleading with schools to stop. If a student is posted to your school, please assist them to register,” she said.
In other news, the Ghana Education Service, as first-year students report to their various computer-placed second-cycle schools across the country, has called on parents to actively support their children’s academic journey beyond the admission process.
In an interview monitored by Pretertiary.com, the Public Relations Officer for the GES, Daniel Fenyi, reminded parents that the role of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has been fully restored and is now central to the school system.
“We are reminding parents that the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is fully restored. This means you are an integral part of your child’s academic journey,” the GES spokesman said in the interview.
The GES official urged parents to make themselves available when schools organize PTA meetings or request support, adding that consistent engagement contributes to students’ motivation and success.
“Don’t only come and drop your ward off at the school premises and go back home. Collect the contacts of some of the teachers and make sure your child feels that you are part of the journey they are about to undertake,” he advised.
