Scrap exam fees for basic pupils – Eduwatch

Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has condemned the practice of imposing examination fees on parents of pupils in public basic schools, highlighting concerns over the potential exclusion of students from assessments due to financial constraints.

With term-end examinations scheduled to begin on Monday, 7th April 2025, Eduwatch, in a statement dated April 5, revealed that some school heads are demanding fees for examinations and printing, threatening to bar pupils whose parents fail to comply.

While Eduwatch acknowledges the value of voluntary parental contributions towards school development, it insists that such contributions should align with policies governing free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE).

Citing the Pre-Tertiary Education Act of 2020 (Act 1049), Eduwatch emphasised that basic education in Ghana is free, compulsory, and universal, with explicit provisions ensuring no child is excluded due to economic challenges.

The organisation reiterated its commitment to equity and denounced any practices that limit children’s full participation in education, particularly due to socio-economic factors.

Eduwatch has called on the Ministry of Education to ensure timely funding for school-based assessments and criticized the recurring reliance on fees to address systemic funding gaps.

The organisation stressed that this approach undermines effective implementation of government policies.

Additionally, Eduwatch urged the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to guarantee that no pupil is denied access to end-of-term examinations due to unpaid fees.

The statement further called for disciplinary measures against school heads who exclude students based on financial constraints.

Eduwatch concluded by emphasizing that the right to basic education is fundamental and unconditional, calling on the government to prioritise direct funding to uphold this principle.

Signed by the organisation’s representatives, the statement underscores the urgency of addressing the issue to safeguard equitable access to education for all Ghanaian children.