The Ghana Education Service (GES) has banned what it described as flamboyant celebrations by final year students and their parents on Senior High School campuses.
This is contained in a press release issued by the Public Relations Officer of the GES, Daniel Fenyi, dated June 19.
“Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed with concern an emerging trend of parents and guardians engaging in flamboyant celebration of their children’s completion of Senior High School. Such opulent displays are characterised by the presentation of expensive gifts such as motor vehicles and money bouquets to their children or wards on school premises,” the GES explained.
It noted that while Management is not against the practice of parents and guardians celebrating achievement of their children or wards, Management is against the practice of such ostentatious displays by parents on school premises.
“In order 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 that are characterised by lavish presentation of items such as motor vehicles to students are prohibited on school premises,” the GES announced.
It added that, “Heads of schools who allow this practice on their campus will be sanctioned.”
According to the GES, “Schools are designed to promote social equalizers where merit and personal effort take priority over economic status. Ostentatious displays of wealth by parents on school premises create visible socio-economic divisions, shift the focus from academic achievement to financial privilege, and can foster psychological distress among students whose parents are not able to compete in such flamboyant celebrations.”
The GES called for the cooperation of parents, guardians, and other stakeholders.
