Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
Two Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates were denied access to their first exam after allegedly being locked in a classroom by their headmaster, a move that has sparked outrage and renewed calls for the protection of students’ rights in Ghana’s private education sector.
The incident, which took place at Big Six Educational Complex in Meduma in the Kwabre East Municipality, saw the students detained on Monday due to unpaid school fees and their decision not to attend a mandatory pre-exam camp organized by the school.
Child rights advocates and education stakeholders are sounding the alarm over the disturbing trend of educational access being tied to financial compliance, especially at such a pivotal moment in students’ academic paths.
The Member of Parliament for Kwabre East, Onyina-Akyeampong Akwasi Gyamfi, has since intervened, reporting the headmaster to the police. “It’s disturbing that a child’s future could be jeopardized this way. Education is a right, not a privilege for the wealthy,” he remarked, noting that similar complaints about the school emerged last year.
The situation raises larger questions about the extent of oversight and accountability in private schools. While private institutions often operate with autonomy, critics argue that some are prioritizing financial policies over their duty of care to students.
Community members and parents are now demanding stronger safeguards to ensure that no child is ever again prevented from sitting for a national exam due to financial hardship.
As investigations continue, this case may become a catalyst for broader policy discussions—ones that place the well-being and educational rights of students above all else.
