GES releases 2026/27 SHS and SHTS prospectus: Full list of items required
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released the National Harmonised Prospectus for the 2026/2027 academic year, outlining the essential items prospective Senior High School (SHS) and Senior High Technical School (SHTS) students will need when they report to school.
The prospectus, released on Thursday, September 3, 2026, applies to both boarding and day students and is intended to help parents and students prepare ahead of the release of the 2026/27 school placements.
The harmonised prospectus provides a standard list of requirements for newly admitted students across the country, covering personal belongings, clothing, bedding, toiletries and academic materials.
Key points
GES has released the 2026/27 National Harmonised Prospectus for SHS and SHTS students.
The requirements cover both boarding and day students.
Parents and students are encouraged to prepare early and label personal belongings with the student's name.
GES explains the purpose of the harmonised prospectus.
According to GES, the prospectus is intended to promote consistency and uniformity in the admission process across schools nationwide.
The Service said schools and other stakeholders are expected to follow the requirements outlined in the document to ensure a smooth and standardised admission process.
“Schools and other relevant stakeholders are also expected to adhere to the requirements outlined in the National Harmonised Prospectus to ensure a smooth, consistent and standardised admission process nationwide.”
The release comes ahead of the announcement of school placements and gives newly admitted students and their families an opportunity to prepare before reporting to their respective schools.
GES said the prospectus provides parents and students with clear guidance on the essential items required for enrolment.
“Ahead of the release of the school placements, this prospectus is intended to provide parents and students with clear guidance on the essential items required for enrolment, ensuring that all newly admitted SHS students are adequately prepared to begin the academic year.”
Full list of items for boarding students
The requirements for boarding students are more extensive because they cover accommodation, personal care, clothing, bedding and academic needs.
Parents are expected to prepare the following:
Hard-body suitcase, trunk, chop box, wooden or plastic
One drinking cup
One plastic or stainless-steel plate
One set of cutlery
One deodorant
One pack of toilet rolls
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Soap and pomade
Two packs of sanitary pads for girls
Decent school-specific sandals without embellishments
One pair of school-specific leather slippers
Decent black or white sneakers
Two pairs of school-specific socks
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One pair of pyjamas or sleepwear
Underwear: five pairs of pants and three vests for girls; three pairs of boxer shorts or pants and three singlets for boys
One plastic bucket with cover and pail
RSV/NIV Bible or Quran and hymn book for Christians, where school-specific
Pillow
Two students' bedsheets and two plain-white pillowcases
One blanket and sleeping cloth
One pair of khaki trousers
One pair of white or school-specific trousers
White dress for ladies
Two white shirts — one short-sleeve and one long-sleeve
Student-size mosquito net
One school bag
One mathematical set and scientific calculator
Two checked dresses, where applicable
Student mattress
School-specific shoe colour
School-specific belt colour
One hoe or cutlass
Med Shea Organic mosquito repellent
The boarding list therefore covers the major items students may require for daily life and academic activities while living on campus.
Items required for day students
The requirements for SHS and SHTS day students are comparatively shorter.
According to the harmonised prospectus, day students are required to have:
One mathematical set and scientific calculator
Decent school-specific sandals without embellishments
Decent black or white sneakers
One school bag
Students may also be required to purchase additional items specified by their respective schools.
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Additional items required for schools
The prospectus also outlines a list of items students are expected to provide for their schools.
Students are required to purchase items from any one of the specified groups.
The listed items include:
One pair of hard-hand gloves
Five litres of liquid soap
One kilogramme of washing powder
One small-size bleach
One dustpan
One long-handle broom
One scrubbing brush
One standing mop and mop bucket
One duster
One short local broom
Parents and students are encouraged to check the specific requirements applicable to their school before making purchases.
GES urges parents to prepare ahead of SHS placement.
The release of the 2026/27 SHS and SHTS prospectus comes ahead of the school placement exercise.
GES has encouraged parents and prospective students to carefully review the requirements and begin making preparations ahead of the new academic year.
The harmonised prospectus is expected to give families sufficient time to purchase the necessary items before students report to their assigned schools.
Schools and other stakeholders involved in the admission process have also been directed to adhere to the requirements contained in the prospectus.
According to GES, the aim is to ensure that the admission process remains smooth, consistent and standardised across the country.
GES directs parents to label students' belongings.
Parents have also been given a specific instruction regarding students' personal belongings.
The prospectus states:
“All personal items should be embossed or embroidered with the student's name.”
Parents are therefore expected to ensure that students' personal belongings are clearly marked with their names to make identification easier.
The instruction is particularly important for students taking multiple personal items to boarding school.
What parents should know
The 2026/2027 National Harmonised Prospectus provides separate requirements for boarding and day students entering SHS and SHTS.
While boarding students have a more comprehensive list covering bedding, clothing, toiletries, academic materials and other essentials, day students have fewer requirements.
Parents are advised to review the prospectus carefully and avoid purchasing items that are not required by their child's assigned school.
The release on September 3, 2026, is expected to help families prepare ahead of the 2026/27 SHS school placement and admission process.
Edem Kwame
Chief Editor
Edem Kwame is a staff journalist at GH News Media, where he covers sports, politics, news and current affairs with a sharp focus on Ghanaian and African football.
