The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs) across the country to stop denying duly admitted boarding students accommodation solely because they report to school with metal trunks, wooden chop boxes, or other personal storage containers.
The directive, dated September 18, 2026, and signed by Deputy Director-General Prof. Smile Dzisi, was addressed to all Regional Directors and follows reports that some schools have been turning away newly admitted students whose personal storage items do not meet specific requirements set by individual schools.
A Viral Incident Sparks Action
The GES action comes on the heels of a viral video that surfaced on social media on September 17, 2026, appearing to show staff of Koforidua Pentecost Secondary School (PENSEC) in the Eastern Region instructing a Form Three student to remove her belongings from a chop box and take it back home.
In the video, shared by Blackjoy TV, one of the staff members is heard telling the student that the chop box was no longer accepted on campus and that she must get a rubber bag or something else to keep her items in.
The incident sparked widespread reactions online, with many Ghanaians expressing concern over the financial burden such policies place on parents and guardians. The chop box — a sizeable wooden box that has been part of Ghanaian boarding school culture for decades, even preceding independence — remains a familiar and affordable storage option for many families.
The GES Directive
In the letter referenced GES/DD-G(MS)/S1/26/431, the GES said it had received reports that some schools were “turning away newly admitted students or refusing to accommodate them because they report to school with metal trunks, wooden chop boxes or other personal storage containers”.
The Service noted that these practices “may impose unnecessary financial burdens on parents and guardians who may be unable to afford alternative storage containers prescribed by individual schools”.
“All students admitted to boarding accommodation should be treated fairly and accommodated without discrimination based on their economic circumstances or the ability of their parents or guardians to purchase particular brands or types of personal effects,” the directive stated.
Regional Directors have been instructed to inform all Heads of Schools to desist from turning away, refusing admission, or denying accommodation to duly admitted students solely on the basis of the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container they bring to school.
Condition: Reasonable Size and Safety
The directive, however, comes with one condition. The storage container must be “reasonably sized, safe and does not pose a risk to the health, safety or welfare of other students”.
This condition appears aimed at addressing schools’ legitimate concerns about hygiene and space constraints in dormitories, while still protecting students from discrimination. Some schools, such as Pope John Senior High School (POJOSS) in Koforidua, have previously banned chop boxes, citing efforts to control bedbug infestations.
Heads Who Flout Directive Risk Sanctions
The GES has warned that any Head of SHS or SHTS who violates the directive “shall be dealt with in accordance with the applicable standards, regulations and laws of the Service”.
Additionally, the Service has directed that any reported case of a duly admitted student being denied accommodation or turned away solely because of the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container brought to school “should be investigated and same reported to Management”.
Background: A Long-Standing Tension
The issue of storage containers in Ghanaian boarding schools is not new. Over the years, some schools have prescribed specific types of trunks or bags, often for aesthetic or hygiene reasons, creating barriers for students from lower-income families.
In 2026, the GES took steps to standardise boarding requirements through the National Harmonised Prospectus for the 2026/2027 academic year, released on September 3, 2026. Per the prospectus, boarding students are expected to acquire a hard-body suitcase or trunk, a wooden or plastic chop box, a drinking cup, a plastic or stainless plate, a set of cutlery, a plastic bucket with a cover, a pail, a student mattress, and a pillow, among other items.
The harmonised prospectus was designed to eliminate the confusion caused by individual schools issuing their own separate prospectuses with varying requirements and costs. However, the recent incidents suggest that some schools have continued to impose additional, non-standard requirements on students.
EduPack Initiative: A Complementary Effort
The GES directive aligns with broader efforts to ease the financial burden on parents during the SHS admission process. In February 2026, Prospectus Ghana, with support from the GES, launched the EduPack programme to simplify the supply of approved boarding essentials.
The EduPack package comprises a trunk or suitcase in line with school policy, a plastic chop box, a mattress with a Mackintosh cover, and a pillow with a Mackintosh cover. The initiative offers discounts of 15%–20% compared to open market rates, and parents can register at any Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) branch nationwide.
However, the EduPack remains an optional service, and the GES has emphasised that no student should be denied admission or accommodation because they cannot afford the packaged items or choose to use their own containers.
A Win for Equity and Access
The GES directive is being welcomed by many as a necessary step to protect vulnerable students and ensure that Ghana’s Free SHS policy remains truly accessible to all, regardless of economic background.
For families across the country, the message from the GES is clear: no child should be turned away from school because of the box they carry their belongings in. The chop box — a symbol of Ghanaian boarding school tradition for generations — has been reaffirmed as a legitimate and acceptable option, provided it is safe and reasonably sized.
As students continue to report to school for the 2026/2027 academic year, the GES has made it clear that school heads who defy the directive will face disciplinary action. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that every duly admitted student is treated fairly and given the opportunity to pursue their education without unnecessary barriers.
