Education Minister extends ban on lavish school celebrations to all schools in Ghana

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has clarified that the government's directive banning extravagant post-WASSCE celebrations applies to every educational institution in Ghana, including both public and private schools.

The Minister said the move is part of efforts to protect the integrity of Ghana's educational system and discourage a growing culture of excessive displays of wealth on school premises.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Mr. Iddrisu stressed that schools should remain environments dedicated to learning, discipline, and academic achievement rather than venues for lavish celebrations.

Responding to questions about whether the directive was intended only for public schools, the Education Minister made it clear that the policy applies across the board.

"It covers all schools in Ghana. It covers all schools in Ghana," he stated.

According to him, the government is determined to prevent the normalization of extravagant celebrations among students, warning that such practices could create unhealthy social pressures and distract from the core purpose of education.

"We cannot allow this culture to be part of the development of Ghanaian learners. It's a simple no," he emphasized.

The clarification follows a recent directive by the Ghana Education Service prohibiting post-examination celebrations that involve the presentation of luxury gifts such as vehicles, money bouquets, expensive gadgets, and other extravagant items to students on school compounds.

The policy was introduced after several viral social media videos showed students receiving costly gifts and participating in lavish ceremonies following the completion of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Education authorities have expressed concern that such practices could promote materialism, create inequality among students, and undermine the values schools are expected to instill.

Mr. Iddrisu clarified that the government is not preventing parents from rewarding or celebrating their children's academic achievements.

However, he stressed that such celebrations should take place outside school premises and not form part of activities organized within educational institutions.

When asked whether parents may simply be trying to motivate their children, the Minister responded:

"You don't need to do that in school."

He noted that while families play an important role in encouraging children, schools must maintain their focus on education and personal development.

The Education Minister emphasized that parenting and education are shared responsibilities between families and schools, but each institution must operate within its designated role.

"Parenting is a shared responsibility between the home and the school. The parent, the significant others, and the teacher share the two environments together," he explained.

According to him, educational institutions must continue to provide safe, secure, and dignified environments where students are encouraged to excel through academic competition rather than displays of wealth.

"The school environment is an environment for academic competition, nothing more."

He added that the increasing trend of extravagant celebrations within schools is inconsistent with the values the education system seeks to promote.

"The extravagant, lavish display of wealth is utterly unacceptable, and we would not tolerate or accommodate that going forward," he stated.

Mr. Iddrisu also disclosed that some of the incidents that recently generated public debate were not brought to the attention of either the Ministry of Education or the Director-General of GES before they occurred.

To prevent future occurrences, the Ministry has introduced stricter oversight measures.

According to the Minister, schools will now be required to seek official approval before organizing related ceremonies or activities connected to students completing their examinations.

"We have accordingly asked that no institution should proceed with those ceremonies without clear clearance from the Director-General of the GES," he announced.

The directive forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Education and GES to maintain discipline, equality, and respect within Ghana's educational institutions while ensuring that schools remain focused on academic excellence and character development.