The Ghana Education Service (GES) has dismissed reports circulating on social media that the Director-General has cancelled the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy. Additionally, these reports falsely claim that parents and guardians are required to pay GH¢1,500 for chop boxes, trunks, and other items. In a circular issued on Tuesday, August 18, the GES characterised these publications as untrue and urged parents, students, and the general public to ignore them. .
This clarification comes as preparations are being made for students entering senior high schools, with the alleged directive causing concern among parents and guardians. The GES stated that neither the Free SHS policy has been cancelled nor has the Director-General issued any directive requiring payments for chop boxes, trunks, or other items. The GES emphasised that its Director-General does not have the authority to cancel a national policy and firmly refuted the claim that the Free SHS program has been scrapped.
“Management wishes to state categorically that the publication is FALSE and should be disregarded. Management has not cancelled the Free SHS policy, nor has the Director-General issued any directive requiring parents or guardians to pay any money for chop boxes, trunks or any other item.” GES therefore urged parents, guardians and students not to make any payments to individuals based on the information circulating on social media.
The Service said the public should rely only on official information communicated through its authorised channels and exercise caution when dealing with unverified publications, particularly those circulating on social media.
“Parents, guardians, students and the general public are therefore urged not to make any payments to anyone. The GES advises the public to rely only on official communications issued through the Service’s authorised channels and to treat unverified publications on social media with caution.”
Source: Kabah Atawoge
