“No child should be barred from education over money.” That’s the firm message from Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) as the non-profit renews pressure on government authorities to abolish illegal exam fees being charged in public basic schools across Ghana.

With end-of-term exams slated to begin Monday, April 7, 2025, the organisation is raising red flags over a growing trend: school heads allegedly demanding exam and printing fees—threatening to bar pupils whose parents cannot pay.

The Growing Crisis in Ghana’s Basic Schools

Eduwatch, in a strongly-worded statement released on April 5, has condemned this recurring practice as a violation of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), which affirms that basic education is free, compulsory, and universal for every Ghanaian child.

Despite this law, reports from districts across the country suggest that school heads are requesting levies under the guise of “printing and examination costs,” directly contradicting the principles of fCUBE (Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education).

“We have received credible reports that heads of public basic schools are threatening to prevent students from writing end-of-term exams if they haven’t paid exam fees. This practice is unlawful and must stop,” Eduwatch stated.

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Eduwatch’s Call to Action

Eduwatch is urging the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to:

1. Immediately disburse exam funds to all public basic schools.
2. Discipline school heads found excluding students over unpaid fees.
3. Strengthen enforcement of the fCUBE policy nationwide.

According to the group, voluntary parental contributions should be encouraged only within the framework of lawful, transparent community support initiatives—not mandatory payments that hinder children’s right to education.

“Financial barriers must never dictate who gets assessed or educated. The government must prioritise and protect the constitutional right to basic education,” the statement emphasized.

Why This Matters: A Child’s Future Shouldn’t Be Conditional

Eduwatch’s intervention comes at a crucial time as economic pressures continue to mount for low-income families in Ghana. In many cases, these illegal exam levies—ranging from GHS 10 to GHS 50—become the reason some children are left out of key academic assessments, reinforcing cycles of inequality.

The organisation concluded its release with a passionate appeal to policymakers and civil society to rally around the cause of educational justice.