Education Minister Orders Probe into Alleged Charges for Free SHS Online Classes

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has announced that the government will investigate reports that some senior high schools are charging students up to GH₵600 to access online lessons designated as free by the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Mr. Iddrisu made the remark during a radio interview on Joy FM on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after a listener alleged that certain schools were collecting the fees under the guise of PTA and local levies as a condition for participation in the off-campus online learning programme.

“This is something that will be dealt with,” Mr. Iddrisu said.

He neither confirmed the GH₵600 figure mentioned in the complaint nor named any school. However, he did not dispute the allegation that charges may be imposed despite the lessons being classified as free.

Online Learning Period

The complaint comes during the off-campus online learning period for Form Two students in transitional senior high schools, which runs from March 16, 2026, to April 17, 2026, under the GES 2025/2026 academic calendar. The period is recognised as mandatory instructional time rather than vacation, and the online resources are intended to be accessed at no cost to students.

Tablet Distribution Challenges

Mr. Iddrisu acknowledged that tablets intended to support participation in the programme have not yet been fully distributed nationwide, leaving some students without the devices required for online learning.

“Tablets are being distributed around the country,” he said, without giving a timeline for completion.

He added that the GES would deploy officials to monitor compliance, though no date was given for the start of the exercise.

Sanitation Concerns at Ghana Senior High School, Tamale

During the same interview, attention turned to sanitation conditions at Ghana Senior High School in Tamale, where the host described students adopting coping measures, including fasting for long periods, to avoid using damaged toilet facilities.

Mr. Iddrisu said he had spoken directly with the headmistress and indicated that repair works were underway.

“There were two of those toilet facilities. One has been fixed. One is in the process of being repaired, and the repair work will be completed by the weekend,” he said.

He described media reports on the situation as exaggerated but did not challenge the concern raised about the broken facilities. He added that the Director General of the GES and his management team would take steps to address the problem.

Lack of Contingency Funding

Mr. Iddrisu said the situation exposed a long-standing gap in school financing, noting that public schools lack contingency funding for emergency repairs.

“Nobody has a budget for contingency,” he said.

He disclosed that he and the Finance Minister had agreed to allocate two per cent of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) formula to respond to emergencies such as storm damage, fire outbreaks, and destruction of school dormitories.

Under the proposal, the government would request the release of funds from GETFund, which would then be channelled through the GES to affected schools. He did not indicate when the arrangement would begin.

Cabinet Paper on School Infrastructure

Mr. Iddrisu also disclosed that he had submitted a cabinet paper to President John Dramani Mahama on the condition of school infrastructure across the country.

“Our basic school dedicated infrastructure is not in the best of shape. We need to do more,” he said.

He referred to the recent collapse of a building near a Melcom branch at New Town in Accra as an example of wider infrastructure challenges beyond the senior high school sector.

World Bank Funding Expected

According to Mr. Iddrisu, approximately $300 million in World Bank funding is expected from July 2026 to support infrastructure improvements. He said the pressure on facilities has grown as student populations in some schools have increased sharply without matching the expansion of classrooms and boarding facilities.

“Population of 1,400, now 3,500. What do you expect? There will be congestion,” he said.