The Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned heads of schools against unauthorized collection of monies from students.

This follows reports that some heads of Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools (SHS/SHTS) were allegedly collecting unauthorized monies from the final year students for clearance.

As such the GES in a statement issued in Accra on Thursday noted that “management wishes to state that such act is illegal and therefore, cautions heads of schools to desist from it and refund any monies collected to the students with immediate effect. Any head of school found to have collected unauthorized monies from final year students before signing their clearance forms will be severely sanctioned.”

The Service, however, urged heads of schools to use the established procedures to surcharge students who have destroyed, lost or stolen school properties before clearing them.

“By this letter, Regional Directors of Education are kindly requested to communicate this directive to all Heads of SHS/SHTS for strict compliance to ensure smooth administration of schools,” GES added.