Haruna Iddrisu cautions School Heads against unapproved fees

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has cautioned heads of second-cycle institutions against denying admission to students duly placed in their schools or demanding unapproved fees.

He said any head found engaging in such practices would face sanctions.

Mr. Iddrisu expressed concern over reports that some school heads were frustrating the enrollment process for first-year students and extorting money from parents and guardians.

Speaking at the 32nd Annual Conference of Directors of Education in Sunyani, Bono Region, the minister described the development as unacceptable and contrary to the government’s policy of equitable access to free and quality education.

He emphasized that every student officially placed through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) must be admitted without discrimination or any additional financial burden beyond approved charges.

“The Ministry will not tolerate any attempt by school authorities to deny access or exploit parents. Heads who disregard these directives will face the appropriate sanctions,” he warned.

Mr. Iddrisu reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to discipline, transparency, and fairness in the education system, urging regional and district directors to intensify monitoring and ensure strict compliance with placement and admission guidelines.

First-year SHS students began reporting to their various schools last weekend to commence the 2025/2026 academic year, following placements under the CSSPS.

At the start of the exercise on September 17, 2025, a total of 483,800 candidates were placed into senior high and technical schools, while an additional 52,492 students completed self-placement by the end of the month.

In all, 536,292 students have been successfully placed into second-cycle institutions out of the 590,309 qualified candidates who sat for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The Minister reiterated that the government remains committed to ensuring that every qualified student has access to free and quality secondary education without facing financial or administrative obstacles.