Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) is calling on the Ministry of Education to immediately halt the practice of charging examination and printing fees in public basic schools, warning that such actions undermine Ghana’s Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) policy.
As end-of-term assessments are set to begin on Monday, April 7, 2025, Eduwatch has raised alarm over reports that some school heads are threatening to prevent pupils from writing their exams unless their parents pay these unofficial levies.
In a statement released on April 5, 2025, Eduwatch condemned this growing trend, describing it as a direct violation of Ghana’s education laws and a threat to educational equity. The organization acknowledged the value of voluntary parental support but stressed that contributions must not be enforced or used as a barrier to access education.
“Basic education shall be free, compulsory, and universal,” Eduwatch reminded stakeholders, referencing Section 2(b) of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049). “No child should be excluded from any aspect of schooling, including examinations, due to financial constraints.”
Eduwatch squarely placed responsibility on the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES), insisting it is the state’s duty to ensure timely release of funds for school-based assessments. While the think tank noted the persistent delay in disbursing these funds over the years, it warned against passing that burden onto parents—many of whom are already struggling financially.
“Shifting the cost of assessments onto poor families is not only unsustainable but also unjust,” the statement read. “We urge the Minister for Education to ensure basic schools receive adequate and timely funding to carry out exams without imposing financial obligations on parents.”
Eduwatch also called on the Director-General of GES to issue clear directives prohibiting the exclusion of any pupil from examinations due to unpaid fees—and to take disciplinary action against school heads who violate this mandate.
“The right to basic education is a fundamental, unconditional right. The state must take full responsibility for its financing,” the group emphasized.
Reaffirming its commitment to promoting equity in education, Eduwatch urged swift and decisive action from the relevant authorities to protect the rights of vulnerable children and to preserve the integrity of Ghana’s free education policy.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com
