Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has clarified that the government’s ban on extravagant post-WASSCE celebrations applies to all schools in Ghana, including both public and private institutions.
According to the Minister, the directive is intended to preserve the dignity of educational institutions and ensure that schools remain focused on learning and academic achievement.
He stressed that the policy covers every school in the country and forms part of efforts to discourage a growing culture of excessive displays of wealth among students on school premises.
The clarification follows a directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) prohibiting post-examination celebrations involving expensive gifts such as motor vehicles, money bouquets, and other lavish presentations to students within school compounds.
While acknowledging that parents may wish to reward their children for completing school, Mr. Iddrisu noted that such celebrations should take place outside educational institutions.
He explained that parenting is a shared responsibility between families and schools, with each playing distinct roles in a child’s development. As a result, schools must remain safe, secure, and respectful environments dedicated primarily to learning and academic competition.
The Minister further described the increasing trend of extravagant displays of wealth on school campuses as unacceptable, emphasizing that authorities would not tolerate or accommodate such practices going forward.
He also disclosed that some of the incidents that sparked public discussion were not brought to the attention of the Ministry of Education or the leadership of the Ghana Education Service before they occurred.
As part of measures to enforce the directive, schools will now be required to obtain approval before proceeding with related ceremonies.
The government says the move is aimed at protecting the integrity of the educational environment and ensuring that schools continue to promote discipline, merit, and academic excellence.