Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed with concern an emerging trend of parents and guardians engaging in flamboyant celebrations of their children’s completion of Senior High School.
Such opulent displays are characterised by the presentation of expensive gifts such as motor vehicles and money bouquets to their children or wards on school premises.
While Management is not against the practice of parents and guardians celebrating achievement of their children or wards, Management is against the practice of such ostentatious displays by parents on school premises.
In order to ensure that this practice does not gain roots in the school culture, Management wishes to inform the general public that, henceforth, post-examination celebrations that are characterised by lavish presentation of items such as motor vehicles to students are prohibited on school premises.
Heads of schools who allow this practice on their campus will be sanctioned.
Schools are designed to promote social equalizers where merit and personal effort take priority over economic status.
Ostentatious displays of wealth by parents on school premises create visible socio-economic divisions, shift the focus from academic achievement to financial privilege, and can foster psychological distress among students whose parents are not able to compete in such flamboyant celebrations.
Management counts on the usual cooperation of parents, guardians, and other stakeholders.
SIGNED:
DANIEL FENYI HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, GES.
