The Ghana Education Service (GES) has rejected claims that students enrolled under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy are being charged GH¢1,700 as feeding fees.
In a statement issued by management, the GES described the reports as false and misleading, insisting that no school has been authorised to collect money from students or parents under any name or arrangement.
The clarification follows media reports alleging that some schools had begun demanding payment for meals, raising concerns that the Free SHS policy was no longer fully free.
According to the GES, the government remains committed to maintaining and improving the flagship education programme introduced in 2017.
The Service warned that any school collecting feeding fees without approval would be acting unlawfully.
“Management of the Ghana Education Service has not authorised or sanctioned any school to charge fees in any form,” the statement stressed.
GES also urged the public to disregard what it described as misinformation being spread about the policy.
While denying official approval for such charges, the Service acknowledged that some schools may attempt to impose fees independently and warned that sanctions would be taken against any institution found violating the policy.
The statement further described both unauthorised fee collection and the spread of false claims about Free SHS as actions against the national interest.
Parents and students who have been asked to pay any unauthorised fees have been encouraged to report the matter to GES authorities for investigation.
The Free SHS policy continues to provide tuition, accommodation, and feeding support for students in public senior high schools nationwide, despite ongoing concerns over funding and infrastructure.
