The Ghana Education Service (GES) has ordered all senior high schools to end the practice of students performing household chores at the homes of teachers and headteachers immediately. The directive comes from GES Director-General, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, who confirmed the move during an interview with JoyNews on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Professor Davis cited Section 3.7 V of the GES Code of Conduct, which explicitly forbids students from being asked to carry out household chores. “We are going to write to schools to make sure that it doesn’t happen because in our code of conduct, section 3.7 V, it is written that the students are not expected to be asked to engage in household chores,” he said. He added that the communication would be sent out the same day, with the expectation that it reaches all schools by the end of the week.
The directive is a response to ongoing concerns about student welfare, especially following the sexual abuse allegations at Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS). The practice of students doing chores at teachers’ residences has been controversial for some time, with critics arguing it exposes students to exploitation and abuse. Although the Code of Conduct bans the practice, enforcement has been lax.
Professor Davis said he expected the message to reach all regional directors by Friday, October 23, 2026. These directors will be responsible for ensuring schools under their supervision comply with the existing rules. “I expect the news to get to all regional directors to remind our staff to apprise themselves with the code of conduct and cease inviting students to schools to do household chores because the code of conduct does not permit that,” he said.
When asked why the practice had persisted despite the clear prohibition, Professor Davis responded, “So, that’s why we are saying they should apprise themselves of that. It’s not acceptable. So, we’ll remind them.”
The GES is moving to reinforce discipline among its staff and protect students from potential abuse. The timing suggests a direct effort to address public concern following the Obuasi SHTS case, which brought national attention to student safety in senior high schools.
The Code of Conduct for GES staff has long included the clause forbidding students from being involved in household chores at teachers’ homes. Yet, the practice has continued in some schools, often justified as part of school culture or tradition. The new directive aims to cut through any ambiguity.
Regional directors will now have a clear mandate to enforce the policy. Schools failing to comply will face scrutiny from GES headquarters. The Service’s emphasis is on making sure all staff understand the rules and uphold them without exception.
The directive does not address any disciplinary measures against those who have previously enforced or allowed the practice but focuses on immediate cessation. This suggests GES wants swift compliance rather than prolonged investigations.
The GES announcement comes amid broader scrutiny of student treatment in Ghana’s education system. The Obuasi SHTS allegations have sparked calls for tighter oversight and better safeguards for students across the country’s senior high schools.
Professor Davis’s statement on October 22 confirms that the Service is taking these concerns seriously and intends to enforce existing rules more strictly. The message to schools is clear: the Code of Conduct is not optional, and student chores at educators’ residences must end now.
According to Joy Online.
