A middle-aged man identified as Alhaji Abdulai has reportedly died at Macheleyili, a farming community in Kpatinga in the Gusheigu Municipality of the Northern Region, amid concerns over financial difficulties linked to his son’s senior high school admission.
According to reports from the community, Alhaji Abdulai had been under significant financial pressure as he tried to raise money to provide the items required for his son’s enrolment at senior high school.
Community members reportedly said the father had expressed concerns about the cost of the items listed in the school prospectus and the difficulty of raising the money needed to meet the requirements.
The incident has left residents of Macheleyili mourning, while concerns have been raised about the financial burden that some families face during the SHS admission process.
The development comes at a time when the requirements for students entering senior high schools and senior high technical schools have generated public discussion across Ghana.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has recently clarified that parents should not be compelled to purchase prospectus items directly from schools. The Service has also said that parents should be allowed to obtain the required items from suppliers of their choice on the open market.
The GES has further stated that no child should be prevented from attending school because a parent is unable to immediately provide a particular item listed in the prospectus.
The clarification followed complaints from parents about alleged pressure to purchase items through schools or designated suppliers, with some families reportedly concerned about the cost of the requirements.
In the case involving Alhaji Abdulai, residents reportedly linked his distress to the financial difficulties surrounding his son’s admission requirements. However, the circumstances surrounding his death remain subject to official investigation.
The incident has renewed calls for greater attention to the financial challenges faced by families during the SHS admission process, particularly households with limited incomes.
For many families, the transition from junior high school to senior high school can involve expenses related to clothing, footwear, toiletries, school bags and other items. While the government’s Free SHS policy covers tuition and several major education costs, parents may still face expenses associated with personal items required by schools.
The GES has said schools must operate within established guidelines and has indicated that institutions found compelling parents to purchase items through unauthorised arrangements could face administrative action.
The death of Alhaji Abdulai has therefore drawn attention to the need for schools, education authorities and parents to communicate clearly about admission requirements and available support.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident, residents and family members are mourning the loss while the wider discussion over the affordability of SHS admission requirements continues.
Source: Thepressradio.com
