GES Bans Flamboyant Post-Examination Celebrations on School Premises

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially prohibited extravagant post-examination celebrations on school campuses following concerns over the growing trend of parents presenting expensive gifts to students after the completion of their Senior High School education.

In a press release dated June 19, 2026, GES expressed concern over recent incidents where parents and guardians have showcased lavish gifts, including motor vehicles and money bouquets, to their children on school premises after their final examinations.

According to the Service, while it supports parents celebrating the academic achievements of their children, it strongly opposes ostentatious displays of wealth within school environments.

GES explained that schools are meant to serve as social equalizers where merit, hard work, and academic excellence take precedence over financial status. The Service believes that public displays of expensive gifts can create socio-economic divisions among students and place unnecessary psychological pressure on those whose families may not be able to afford similar celebrations.

The statement noted that such practices risk shifting attention away from educational achievement and towards material wealth and privilege.

e values of fairness, humility, and inclusiveness within educational institutions. The Service believes that allowing extravagant celebrations on campus could undermine the principles upon which schools are built.

The statement concluded by calling on parents, guardians, and all stakeholders in the education sector to cooperate in ensuring that students’ achievements are celebrated in ways that do not create divisions among their peers.

The directive is likely to spark debate among parents and the general public. While some may view the ban as necessary to promote equality and reduce pressure on students, others may argue that parents should be free to reward their children as they see fit.