The Ghana Education Service (GES) has said parents and guardians are under no compulsion to acquire the new school uniforms for their wards if they do not have the means to.
The announcement comes on the back of allegations that the GES was importing the proposed new uniforms into the country rather than engage local manufactures.
“…it must be noted that the school uniform is not compulsory,” GES Head of Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo said in the statement, adding, “no student will be prevented from attending school when the 2019/2020 academic year begins in September.”
Meanwhile, GES has denied the allegations of importing the new uniforms into the country. According to it, the allegations are baseless and without merit.
“The GES wishes to state that it has not imported, neither, has it contracted any individual, locally or internationally to bring in a new uniform for the Junior High Schools,” Twum Ampofo’s statement said.
It will be recalled that in April this year, the Director-General of GES introduced a sample of the new uniform and its design to the media.
According to him, the change was aimed at psyching the students of what is ahead of them in a defence of the policy following grave public disapproval.
The design contract
Currently, Ghanaian school children from primary to Junior High all wear the same attire – Yellow top and brown Khaki down – which has been used for the past 30 years.
The new uniform also has a light brown khaki down and striped top with books drawn in portions.
The new uniforms would be accompanied by a new curriculum being introduced in schools by the Education Service.
According to Professor Amankwa, the designing of the new uniforms contract was given to a number of people and that “we have was what was selected.”
On the colors, he said the dull or dim was chosen because “we know children love to play a lot and may make themselves dirty in the process. The color chosen is the best if you ask.”
Source: Ghana|Starrfm.com.gh|103.5FM
