The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced an immediate ban on extravagant post-examination celebrations on school premises, citing concerns over the growing trend of parents and guardians presenting expensive gifts to students after completing Senior High School.
In a statement issued on June 19, and signed by the Head of Public Relations, Daniel Fenyi, the GES said it had observed an increasing practice where parents celebrate their children’s academic milestones by presenting lavish gifts such as motor vehicles and money bouquets on school campuses.
According to the Service, while it does not oppose parents and guardians celebrating the achievements of their children, it is concerned about the ostentatious nature of some of these celebrations, particularly when they take place within school environments.
“To ensure that this practice does not gain roots in the 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,” the statement noted.
GES further warned that heads of schools who permit such activities on their campuses will face sanctions.
The Service explained that schools are intended to serve as social equalizers where merit, discipline, and personal effort take precedence over economic status.
It argued that conspicuous displays of wealth on school grounds could deepen socio-economic divisions among students, shift attention away from academic achievement, and cause psychological distress to students whose parents may not be able to afford similar gestures.
The statement emphasized that allowing such celebrations to flourish could undermine the inclusive environment schools are expected to promote.
GES therefore called on parents, guardians, and other stakeholders in the education sector to cooperate with the directive and support efforts to preserve the values of equity, modesty, and academic excellence within schools.
The directive takes immediate effect nationwide.
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