The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has thrown its support behind the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) directive banning extravagant graduation and promotional ceremonies in basic schools across the country.
According to the council, the move is timely and necessary to protect parents from undue financial pressure and to restore the true purpose of educational ceremonies.
The endorsement follows a recent directive by the Ghana Education Service cautioning schools against organising lavish graduation events that impose additional costs on parents and guardians.
Speaking on the issue, NCPTA President Haruna Kabul Mahama said the association fully supports the GES decision, noting that graduation ceremonies at the basic school level have increasingly become expensive and burdensome for many families.
“We support the directive by GES. Graduation ceremonies have become unnecessarily expensive, and many parents are compelled to spend money they do not have just to satisfy school requirements.”
He noted that some schools have turned what should be simple ceremonies into elaborate events involving costly attire, decorations, entertainment, and photography packages, placing significant pressure on parents.
According to him, education should remain accessible and affordable, and schools must be mindful of the economic realities facing many households.
“The purpose of these ceremonies is to celebrate the academic progress of pupils, not to burden parents with avoidable expenses.”
The NCPTA President urged school authorities to fully comply with the GES directive and focus on organising modest events that reflect the educational objectives of the institutions.
He argued that resources that would otherwise be spent on lavish ceremonies could be redirected towards teaching and learning materials or other activities that directly benefit students.
The council also called on parents to support the directive’s implementation, stressing that it would help reduce unnecessary financial commitments at a time when many families are grappling with economic challenges.
Education stakeholders have largely welcomed the GES directive, with many describing it as a step towards promoting equity and preventing discrimination among pupils whose parents may be unable to afford expensive graduation-related costs.
The GES directive is expected to affect graduation and promotional ceremonies organised by kindergartens, primary schools and junior high schools nationwide.
The NCPTA believes the measure will help ensure that school celebrations remain inclusive, meaningful, and affordable while preserving the dignity and purpose of such events.
“We must create an environment where every child can participate in school activities without their parents feeling pressured to incur unnecessary expenses.”
The council has therefore urged all stakeholders, including school administrators, teachers and parents, to work together to ensure the successful implementation of the directive for the benefit of pupils and the broader education sector.
