EduPack management and partners pose with the GES-approved SHS essentials.
The EduPack programme, a national student welfare initiative implemented by Prospectus Ghana Limited with support of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), has been launched to address the long-standing challenge of bed bug infestation in boarding schools as well as the challenge parents and students face during Senior High School (SHS) admissions.
The programme is a structured SHS boarding essentials initiative approved by the GES and the Ministry of Education, supporting parents and guardians of Junior High School (JHS) students transitioning to SHS. It focuses on standardisation, safety, hygiene, and direct school delivery of approved boarding items.
The EduPack initiative seeks to support parents by providing essential school items directly to schools at affordable prices, offering discounts of 15%–20% compared to open market rates.
The standard four approved SHS boarding essentials by the GES includes; trunk or suitcase (based on school policy), plastic chopbox, student mattress with mackintosh cover and pillow with mackintosh cover.
According to the CEO of Prospectus Ghana Limited, Mr. Jude Kofi Gyamfi, EduPack is designed to make school preparation simpler, more convenient, and less stressful for both parents and students.
“By bringing together trusted Ghanaian manufacturers, logistics partners, and financial institutions, we ensure the delivery of quality and essential school items directly to schools,” he said.
He explained that, their long-term goal is to create a stress-free, hygienic, and cost-effective school preparation system nationwide.
He emphasised that, students will receive a mattress with mackintosh cover, pillow with mackintosh cover, a high-quality suitcase, and a plastic chop box before reporting. The items are brand-new, durable, and hygienic, helping prevent the transfer of bedbugs from home. The chop boxes are multi-purpose, stackable, and fitted with coded padlocks to enhance security.
Mr. Gyamfi stressed that, the GES approved essential items will be delivered directly to schools at least one week before reopening, supported by logistics partnerships with Ghana Post and FedEx.
The CEO clarified that the EduPack programme does not introduce a new school fee.
He added that parents and guardians should register their wards by making payment through: “Any ADB Bank branch nationwide with the ADB USSD short code *767*140# or can visit any ADB Bank branch nationwide to register and make payment.”
The Chief Operations Manager, Mrs. Evie Sarpong, added that all items are produced locally in Ghana, and has created employment for over 1,000 people nationwide, stressing that parents will also benefit from additional services such as free labeling of students’ names and free padlocks for plastic chop boxes.
She said, “Parents are encouraged to register early at any Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) branch by requesting an EduPack pay-in slip. Schools have been duly informed about the initiative to ensure smooth distribution and storage of students’ items.
She indicated that payment can be made in installment before the reopening of SHSs, adding that the initiative is made for all schools.
Responding to concerns about potential misuse of government policies, the Chief Operations Manager clarified that, “EduPack is not a government payment scheme. These are standard school prospectus items that parents would normally purchase independently. Through this initiative, parents save both time and money.”
Highlighting some key benefits of the EduPack Initiative, she stated that; it is stress-free and convenient commuting, support for bed bug eradication and healthier boarding environment, cost saving for parents and guardians, school infrastructure support as well as job creation and local economic impacts.
The pilot phase will begin with 100 schools, with the long-term vision of providing a nationwide solution that reduces costs, eases logistics, and promotes hygiene for students transitioning to SHS..
By Janet Odei Amponsah