The Ghana Education Service (GES) has warned heads of Senior High Schools (SHSs) against permitting post-WASSCE gift presentations on school premises, stressing that the practice undermines the values the Service seeks to instil in students.
Speaking to the media, GES Director, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, stated that the increasing trend of extravagant gift presentations after the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) promotes an unhealthy display of wealth among students.
According to him, education is meant to nurture discipline, humility, and responsible citizenship, not encourage competition based on material possessions.
He cautioned that any school head who allows such events to take place on campus will face disciplinary action.
The announcement comes amid growing public debate over lavish gift presentations, which have become common in some SHSs.
While some Ghanaians support the ban, arguing that it will reduce peer pressure, social inequality, and unnecessary distractions in schools, others believe students should be allowed to celebrate their achievements in moderation.
Many parents and education stakeholders have welcomed the directive, describing it as a step toward preserving discipline and ensuring that school environments remain focused on academic and moral development rather than displays of affluence.
GES maintains that schools must remain spaces that promote equal opportunities and values that prepare students for responsible adulthood.
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