Omanghana
The National Council of Parents-Teachers Associations, Ghana, has directed parents and guardians of first-year Senior High School students not to make payments or purchase prospectus items from EduPack PGL, also known as Prospectus Ghana Limited.
The warning follows the circulation of SMS and WhatsApp messages, as well as online advertisements, asking parents to pay GH¢1,617 for a standardized boarding package.
The advertised package reportedly includes a metal trunk, plastic chop box, Macintosh mattress and Macintosh pillow, with arrangements for the items to be collected on school campuses.
NCPTA said parents should disregard the messages because the arrangement has not been approved by the Ghana Education Service.
The association referred to an official disclaimer issued by the GES confirming that it had neither authorised nor directed parents to engage with or make payments to EduPack PGL.
NCPTA General Secretary Gapson Kofi Raphael emphasized that parents have the right to purchase items listed on school prospectuses from vendors of their choice.
He said families must be allowed to compare prices and buy the required items from the open market, as has traditionally been the practice, rather than being compelled to use a single supplier.
The association rejected any attempt to impose fixed-price packages on parents during the school admission process. It also condemned the use of educational institutions as collection or sales points for unauthorised commercial activities.
According to the NCPTA, requiring parents to purchase items from one supplier could place an unnecessary financial burden on families, particularly those who may already own some of the listed items or can obtain them at more affordable prices elsewhere.
The council welcomed the GES disclaimer but called for additional measures to protect parents from possible exploitation and misinformation.
It urged the Ghana Education Service to investigate and sanction any heads of schools who permit unauthorised vendors to sell or distribute items on their campuses.
The NCPTA also called for legal action against individuals or companies allegedly using the GES name, logo or other official symbols to give parents the impression that such commercial arrangements have received government approval.
The association advised parents to verify payment instructions and purchasing arrangements directly with their children’s schools or the Ghana Education Service before transferring money to individuals or private companies.
School, district and regional PTA executives have also been asked to monitor admission activities closely and identify any attempts to compel parents to purchase prospectus items from a particular supplier.
Any cases involving forced purchases, unauthorised sales or misleading payment requests should be reported to the NCPTA Secretariat and the appropriate GES authorities for investigation.
The council reiterated that admission into an SHS must not be tied to the purchase of a commercial package from a specific vendor. It urged parents to remain vigilant and resist any pressure to make unauthorised payments.
Source: Omanghana
