The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) said on Thursday that the 2015/16 approved fees for second cycle institutions would not affect the rolling out of the Progressively Free SHS Policy.

A statement signed by Jacob A.M. Kor, Acting Director-General of GES and copied to the GNA, said all day students were exempted from the payment of school fees starting from the 2015/16 academic year, since they were covered by the Progressively Free Scholarship Policy.

It said, however, that day students already covered by other forms of scholarship schemes were not beneficiaries of the Progressively Free Scholarship Policy.

“Consequently, the previous release on school fees to be paid by students was a general template to serve as a guide to school authorities, boarders and other affected students,” the statement explained.

It further said the need to make SHS Progressively free by government was to help the vulnerable groups to remove financial barriers and improve access to SHS, and address inequalities in opportunities to transition from JHS to SHS.

It was also to enable students dropping out at the SHS level who otherwise would have continued to acquire functional skills, as well as increase the chances of students from poor background accessing high education to reduce the cost of education of many households.

“It is envisaged that Heads of Schools would go strictly in accordance with what has been published”.

The statement listed the Regional Schools that were the beneficiaries of the Progressively Free Policy as follows:

Central Region 27, 795 students in 54 schools, Western Region 38, 751 in 56 Schools, Ashanti Region 64, 430 from 102 schools, Northern has 17, 648 students out of 45 schools, Brong Ahafo has 38,751 from56 schools.

The rest were Upper East has 1,395 students out of 28 schools, Upper West has 877 students from 23 schools, Eastern Region has 34,157 students out of 82 schools, Greater Accra Region has 52,664 consisting of 46 schools while Volta Region has 36,859 out of 88 schools.

The approved school fees for the second cycle institutions for 2015/16 academic year released on Monday said boarding students were expected to pay GH¢360, while Day students would pay GH¢50.

Heads of schools were asked not to include any levies not approved by the Service and that any complaint raised by parents and guidance about such illegal fees would attract severe sanction and asked Heads of schools to go strictly according to what had been approved.

Regional Directors, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Directors of Education were entreated to ensure strict compliance of the approved fees.

For uniform and clothing, made up of school uniforms, house dresses and Physical Education kits for each student, boarder or day students would pay GH¢190, while technical students would be required in addition to the GH¢190, pay GH¢30 for overcoat, which was optional.

On teaching and learning fees, both Boarders and Day students were required to pay a cumulative figure of GHC122.50 to cover medical exams, GHC15.00; National Science and Mathematics quiz, GH¢5.00 and Science development fee, GH¢3.00

It also gave approved fees for PTA, which was for Boarders to pay GH¢52.00 while Day students would pay GH¢43.00 to cover PTA dues, an incentive package, development levy and utilities.

Others are house dues, co-curricular activities information communication technology and cadet corps (optional).

Heads were reminded that admission fees would be charged only once on admission.