The Ghana education Service (GES) has banned ostentatious post‑examination celebrations on school premises, warning that parents who present lavish gifts such as motor vehicles or money bouquets to students on campus will be stopped and school heads who permit the practice will face sanctions.

In a statement signed by Head of Public Relations, GES, Daniel Fenyi, said it recognizes parents’ right to celebrate their children’s completion of Senior High School (SHS) but is concerned about a growing trend of flamboyant displays that create visible socio‑economic divisions among students.

“Schools are designed to promote social equalizers where merit and personal effort take priority over economic status,” it stated.

It added that extravagant displays shift focus from academic achievement to financial privilege and can cause psychological distress for pupils whose families cannot match such spending.

To prevent the practice becoming entrenched in school culture, GES announced that post‑examination events characterized by lavish presentations of items such as cars are now prohibited on school premises.

The service warned that heads of schools who allow such celebrations to take place will be sanctioned.

GES appealed for cooperation from parents, guardians and other stakeholders to protect the learning environment and uphold values of equity and merit.