According to reports on social media that the Director-General has cancelled the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy and ordered parents and guardians to pay GH¢1,500 for chop boxes, trunks, and other things, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has denied these claims.
The GES declared the statement false in a circular issued on Tuesday, August 18, and advised parents, students, and the general public to ignore it.
With the alleged instruction reportedly worrying parents and guardians, the explanation comes during preparations for pupils entering senior high schools.
According to the GES, neither has the Free SHS program been canceled nor has the Director-General given parents or guardians any instructions to pay for trunks, chop boxes, or other products.
The Service further denied the claim that the Free SHS program had been terminated, emphasizing that its Director-General lacks the authority to do so.
“Management wishes to state unequivocally that the publication is UNTRUE and should be ignored. The Free SHS policy has not been revoked by the Management, and the Director-General has not given any instructions requesting parents or guardians to pay any money for chop boxes, trunks, or any other items. “
As a result, GES encouraged parents, guardians, and children not to pay anybody based on the material circulating on social media.
The Service cautioned the public to only trust official information relayed via its approved channels and to exercise care while dealing with unverified publications, especially those circulated on social media.
“Parents, guardians, students, and the general public are therefore advised not to pay anyone. The GES advises the public to only trust official communications issued through the Service’s authorized channels and to treat unverified social media publications with caution.”
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