Free SHS: Three Head Teachers Suspended Over Unauthorised Fees and Alleged Extortion

• Three Heads of Technical Institutes have been suspended over allegations of unauthorised fee collection and extortion
• These head teachers who were sanctioned were from schools across three different regions of Ghana
• The fees that were allegedly collected violate the government’s Free TVET and Free SHS policy

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service has suspended three Heads of Technical Institutes over unauthorised fee collection and alleged extortion.

The affected schools are the Agona Swedru Technical Institute in the Central Region, the Sunyani Technical Institute in the Bono Region, and the Madina Technical Institute in the Greater Accra Region.

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Citi News reported that the sanctioned headteachers are:

• Madam Hannah Asamoah, Central Regional Director — Agona Swedru Technical Institute
• Gabriel Gyamfi, Bono Regional Director — Sunyani Technical Institute
• Juliana Nkrumah, Greater Accra Regional Director — Madina Technical Institute

According to a statement from the Ghana TVET Service, the allegations involve the imposition of several unapproved charges, including admission fees, boarding protocol payments, fees for changing residential status from day to boarding, fashion practical item charges, bedsheet payments, and PTA-related levies.

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These fees violate the government’s Free TVET and Free SHS policy, which guarantees free access to technical and vocational education.

The Service has also set up investigative committees to probe the allegations.

Pending the conclusion of investigations, the Heads of the three institutions have been placed on 30-day administrative leave with immediate effect.

During this period, their duties have been handed over to the respective Regional Directors, who will oversee the day-to-day administration of the schools alongside their regular responsibilities.

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“Management remains resolute in upholding accountability, transparency, and fairness in the management of Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions across Ghana."

Before schools reopened, the Ghana Education Service released the 2025 harmonised prospectus with a warning against the collection of unauthorised fees.

Public schools were required to strictly adhere to this standard list.

Adom News reported that schools were also warned that they are prohibited from requesting additional items.

Why does the GES have a harmonised prospectus?

The service introduced a harmonised prospectus to clamp down on the unauthorised sale of school items because of the Free SHS policy.

This led to the introduction of a harmonised prospectus for Senior High School students to ensure schools do not ask students to bring extra items.

The national prospectus is categorised into basic needs and cleaning materials to make it easier for parents to identify required items.

Over the years, the Ghana Education Service has interdicted headteachers of Senior High Schools for collecting unauthorised monies from students.

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Private schools officially under Free SHS

YEN.com.gh reported that the Ministry of Education will pay GH¢994 per student annually to support private schools participating in this year’s Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

The government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools to facilitate this.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said this measure is part of efforts to eliminate the double-track system.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh