GES Directs SHS to Stop Rejecting Students Over Metal Trunks and Wooden Chop Boxes

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs) to stop refusing newly admitted students accommodation because they report to school with metal trunks, wooden chop boxes, or other personal storage containers.

The directive is contained in a letter dated 18 September 2026 and signed by Prof. Smile Dzisi (Mrs.), Deputy Director-General (Management), for the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service.

The directive follows reports received by GES that some SHSs and SHTSs were turning away newly admitted students or refusing to accommodate them because they arrived with storage containers that did not meet particular requirements prescribed by individual schools.

According to GES, such practices could place unnecessary financial pressure on parents and guardians who may not be able to afford alternative storage containers required by some schools. In schools like Aggrey Memorial, parents have to cough GHS500,000 instantly to purchase the box attached below for their wards if the fresher is to continue with the registration process and get admitted. The reality is that, this box costs between GHS240 and GHS260 in Accra

According to the school authorities, this box will help ensure space in the respective dormitories is utilized well. The question is why won’t the school give the dimension of the box to parents in the prospectus just as they do for the uniform the learner will wear to school on day one so that parents can secure this ahead of time and a teacher cost?

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GES orders schools to accommodate students fairly

The Ghana Education Service has instructed Regional Directors to inform all heads of schools to stop denying accommodation to duly admitted boarding students solely because of the type of trunk, chop box or personal storage container they bring to school.

GES said students admitted to boarding accommodation should be treated fairly and accommodated without discrimination based on their economic circumstances or the ability of their parents or guardians to purchase particular brands or types of personal effects.

The directive applies where the student’s storage container is reasonably sized, safe and does not pose a risk to the health, safety or welfare of other students.

This means that the GES directive does not prevent schools from maintaining reasonable standards concerning the size and safety of items brought into boarding facilities.

However, schools are being told not to make a particular brand, type or prescribed storage container a condition for admitting or accommodating an otherwise duly admitted student.

Schools told not to turn away newly admitted students

The directive specifically addresses situations where newly admitted students arrive at school with metal trunks, wooden chop boxes or other personal storage containers.

GES has asked Regional Directors to ensure that heads of schools understand that such students should not be refused admission to boarding accommodation simply because of the type of storage container they have brought.

The Service said any reported case involving a duly admitted student who is denied accommodation or turned away solely because of the type of trunk, chop box or personal storage container brought to school should be investigated.

Such cases should subsequently be reported to Management.

Directive comes as SHS1 students report to school

The letter was issued on 18 September 2026, the date stated in the document, as newly admitted students begin reporting to Senior High and Senior High Technical Schools.

The directive therefore places responsibility on school authorities to ensure that accommodation decisions do not create additional financial demands for families simply because students arrive with storage containers that differ from those preferred by individual schools.

GES has asked Regional Directors to communicate the directive to all heads of schools within their jurisdictions.

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Heads of schools warned over violations

The Ghana Education Service has also warned that heads of SHS and SHTS who flout the directive will be dealt with in accordance with the applicable standards, regulations and laws of the Service.

The instruction therefore establishes a clear distinction between reasonable boarding requirements and denying accommodation based solely on the type of personal storage container used by a student.

For parents and guardians, the key message in the directive is that a duly admitted boarding student should not be denied accommodation merely because the student reports with a metal trunk, wooden chop box or another reasonably sized and safe personal storage container.

What parents and students should know

The GES directive does not state that schools must accept storage containers regardless of their condition or size. It specifically refers to items that are reasonably sized, safe and do not pose a risk to the health, safety or welfare of other students.

It also does not prohibit schools from maintaining legitimate standards for boarding accommodation. Rather, it directs schools not to refuse accommodation solely because a student’s storage container does not belong to a particular brand or type preferred by the school.

The directive signed by Prof. Smile Dzisi therefore places the emphasis on fair accommodation, non-discrimination and reasonable safety standards as students enter SHS and SHTS boarding facilities.