Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has raised a strong objection to the practice of charging examination fees for pupils in public basic schools, stressing that such fees could prevent students from sitting for their end-of-term exams due to financial challenges.
In a statement issued on April 5, Eduwatch revealed that some school heads have been demanding fees for examinations and printing, with threats of barring students whose parents cannot pay. With term-end exams set to begin on April 7, 2025, Eduwatch expressed concern that this practice violates the principles of free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) outlined in the Pre-Tertiary Education Act of 2020 (Act 1049).
While the organization recognizes the importance of voluntary parental contributions for school development, it emphasized that such contributions must align with national education policies and should not compromise the right to education. Eduwatch highlighted that basic education in Ghana is meant to be free, and no child should be excluded from education due to financial constraints.
The advocacy group called on the Ministry of Education to address the recurrent funding shortfalls that lead to the imposition of these fees, urging the government to provide adequate financial support for school-based assessments. Eduwatch also urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to intervene and ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to take part in their exams due to unpaid fees.
Further, Eduwatch called for swift action against any school heads who engage in this discriminatory practice, and reiterated that the right to education is a fundamental, unconditional right for all Ghanaian children. The organization’s statement underscores the need for the government to prioritize proper funding mechanisms to uphold the integrity of its education policies.
