All SHSs to move from pre-paid meters to post-paid meters – MoE

Public Senior High Schools (SHSs) under the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) will be moved from pre-paid meters to post-paid meters effective 2026, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has said.

The Education Minister disclosed this at the 63rd Annual Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) held in Accra.

His assurance comes after the President of the Conference of Heads of Assistant Secondary Schools (CHASS), Rev. Fr. Stephen Owusu Sekyere, called for a shift from pre-paid to postpaid electricity meters in all schools in Ghana.

In an interview monitored by Pretertiary.com, Rev. Fr. Stephen Owusu Sekyere said this would help to stabilize the power supply and avoid interruptions that could disrupt teaching and learning.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show, he explained that prepaid meters in schools can cause interruptions to teaching, learning, and other activities due to the need to constantly purchase and recharge the meters.

“So we were of the view that all prepaid meters in schools, except maybe bungalows, the rest must be changed to postpaid,” the President of the Conference of Heads of Assistant Secondary Schools (CHASS) said.

He cited Saint Peter’s Senior High, which has already moved from prepaid to postpaid meters, saying he cannot guarantee that schools using prepaid meters are able to purchase enough electricity.

“I cannot assure you because it’s just difficulties that my brothers and sisters are going through, because the money may not come on time, and you wouldn’t know how to go and buy it before the money will come to you,” the Reverend Father stated.

The Conference of Schools President added, “So we as managers try to manage the institutions, but sometimes it becomes so difficult because there is no other source of income for you to do that,” he said.

The Conference of Heads of Assistant Secondary Schools (CHASS) call for government second-cycle schools to move from pre-paid meters to post-paid ECG meters comes after the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cut off electricity supply to Accra Academy Senior High School (SHS) due to unpaid arrears.

This plunged the entire campus into total darkness at 8:40 pm on Monday, February 19, forcing students to rely on torches to study, according to a media practitioner who had visited the school.

In other news, the Headmaster of Mawuli Senior High School, Mr. Benjamin Yawo Dei, has appealed to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to resolve persistent power issues caused by installing pre-paid electricity meters on campus.

He noted that the school faces significant financial strain due to the constant need to top up prepaid electricity credits, saying it disrupts academic activities, particularly during evening study periods (preps).

The Headmaster of Mawuli Senior High School urged the Parliament Education Select Committee to leverage its influence to reinstate post-paid meters, which he believes would enhance teaching and learning.

Reacting to his plea, the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Hon. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, said, “This issue is national and cuts across all the schools we have visited. However, the government is working diligently to resolve it this year.”