The Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a warning to Heads of Senior High Schools and Technical Schools over the unauthorised registration of students and private candidates for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

In a press statement issued on Thursday, January 8, and signed by GES Head of Public Relations Daniel Fenyi, the education management body said it had observed with concern that some Heads of Schools and other officials are engaging in the illegal registration of Form Two students and, in some cases, private candidates, often in exchange for fees.

"The Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed that some Heads of Senior High Schools and Technical Schools are engaging in the unauthorised registration of Form Two students and/or private candidates for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), often in exchange for fees."

Management stated that Heads of Schools are authorised to register only Form Three students for the WASSCE.

According to the statement, these are students whose academic records and progression from Year One to Year Three can be properly traced and verified in the school’s official database.

“The registration of Form Two students or private candidates by any school official is strictly prohibited,” the statement emphasised.

GES further noted that any Head or school official found to be involved in such unauthorised registrations, including the collection of monies for this purpose, would be deemed to have engaged in serious misconduct and an abuse of office.

The Service cautioned all Heads and school officials to comply fully with the directive, warning that any breach would attract severe sanctions in line with existing GES and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) regulations.

"All Heads and school officials are hereby cautioned that the breach of this directive will attract severe sanctions in accordance with GES and WAEC regulations, without exception," the statement concluded.