I had not seen the press statement released by the Ministry of Education, dated June 20, 2026, but I had seen posted on social media, unbelievable pictures and stories of senior high school (SHS) graduates with incredible gifts showered on them.
Those were congratulatory gifts from parents and relatives as their children celebrated the completion of their secondary school education.
Social media almost immediately got covered with disgust reactions condemning the excessive levels parents and families had gone to with the so-called celebrations, with no shame or guilt.
Display of affluence
As one moaned and condemned all who were involved in such an unwarranted display of affluence in a community such as a school, one also got baffled as to why the schools and the Ghana Education Service (GES) could allow any such inappropriate show in a school setting. Did they not see the inaptitude?
While lamenting on the issue, someone shared with me the press statement that had been issued by the Ministry of Education, and quite rightly so, condemning what was going on in some schools in the name of SHS graduation celebrations.
According to the statement, the Ministry, with immediate effect, had suspended SHS graduation ceremonies amid concerns over excessive displays of wealth.
And they were indeed a needless display of affluence in the lives of those teenagers.
From what was trending on social media, there was a bouquet of 100 USD notes virtually sprayed on a daughter by her parents as their surprise gift to her.
There were other gifts wrapped and packed in the booth of a vehicle with an unlicensed plate.
These included a celebration cake, an iPhone and some other accessories.
If such gifts could be showered on an SHS graduate, what would it look like for a graduation from the Medical, Engineering, Law or any such high-flying professional groups in a few years?
But that is not all. Also posted on social media was a story of another SHS graduate who was reportedly gifted with a brand new vehicle costing nearly half a million Ghana Cedis by her family. I said a quiet prayer for her future husband.
Why are parents putting their children on the spot this way?
Do they not see the light they are putting them in, not to mention the unfitting examples they are setting for other families?
Dangerous trend
A very dangerous trend is being set, and the earlier schools insist on the curtailment of such extremities on their premises and get defaulters punished, the better it would be for our society.
For as long as we coexist in communities, we need some modesty and sensitivity in the way children are raised.
How many parents today can afford to ago to the excesses one sees on social media?
And even where they can afford it, how many would flaunt such obscenities in their children’s school?
For those parents who so wish to let the world know of their statuses, let them keep it contained in their homes, at private parties, or perhaps turn it around and do something beneficial for the generality of the school or community.
Strictly speaking, schools, from primary to secondary levels, should set a level playing field for the children under their care and without any favour; let parents be made aware of the boundaries they should not cross.
Birthday celebrations
A few years ago, there was some noise made concerning primary schools that were allowing children to bring excess items, including expensive birthday cakes, kebabs, cookies, drinks and sweets, to school to celebrate their birthdays.
The trend seemed to have put pressure on parents to do the same for their children on their birthdays or even spend on expensive birthday gifts for their children to take to their celebrating friends.
The trend got out of hand, and there were many negative comments about it, with a call on schools to stop the practice.
While the controversy was raging, I interviewed the late Mrs Theodosia Okoh for her views on some other issues for this column. I sought her views on the issue of expensive birthday celebrations in some schools.
She was blunt in condemning the practice and called for its abolition, citing the undue pressure it could bring parents, saying schools had a duty to encourage modesty and ethical behaviours in their institutions.
I have come to admire schools that encourage children to wear school uniforms, thus putting all children on the same footing when it comes to dressing for school and with no flashy jewellery.
Some of these schools also have policies for the girls on how to keep their hair short.
In other schools, they do not encourage braids with hair extensions and all the fanciful beads and accompanying accessories.
If a parent wants their girls to grow their hair, they could do simple cornrows with their own hair.
It is about time schools stand firm and insist on some modicum of acceptable behaviours and actions in their institutions, remembering that they are causative agents in shaping the character and the training of our young ones for future communities and the nation.
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