The Ghana Education Service (GES) has banned lavish post-examination celebrations on school premises, citing concerns over parents gifting students expensive items like cars and money bouquets after completing Senior High School.
In a statement signed by Head of Public Relations Daniel Fenyi, GES management said it had observed with concern an emerging trend of parents engaging in flamboyant celebrations of their children’s completion of SHS.
The Service described the displays as ostentatious and said, they were characterised by the presentation of expensive gifts such as motor vehicles to students on school premises.
While clarifying that it is not against parents celebrating their children’s achievements, GES said it opposes such displays on school grounds.
The statement said post-examination celebrations involving lavish presentation of items such as motor vehicles to students are henceforth prohibited on school premises.
Heads of schools who allow the practice on their campuses will be sanctioned, the statement added.
According to GES, schools are designed to promote social equalizers where merit and personal effort take priority over economic status.
It said ostentatious displays of wealth by parents create visible socio-economic divisions, shift the focus from academic achievement to financial privilege, and can foster psychological distress among students whose parents are unable to compete in such flamboyant celebrations.
GES said it counts on the cooperation of parents, guardians, and other stakeholders to ensure the practice does not gain roots in school culture.
