The Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) has recommended a review of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, suggesting that parents should share part of the financial burden to ensure the programme’s sustainability and effectiveness.
This call comes amid growing concerns about the financial challenges faced by Senior High Schools across the country, as expressed by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS).
CHASS, in a communiqué signed by its National Secretary, Primus Baro, appealed to the Ministry of Education to release overdue funds critical to the smooth operation of schools. With the 2025 academic year set to begin on January 3, 2025, these funds are urgently needed to address pressing needs, including unpaid arrears for perishable items, utility bills, and other essentials. According to CHASS, the lack of these funds jeopardizes the ability of schools to reopen on schedule and maintain the quality of education, infrastructure, and student welfare.
The communiqué referenced earlier correspondences on September 20, 2024, and August 12, 2024, as well as assurances from the Minister of Education during a Zoom meeting on December 18, 2024. Despite these interactions, CHASS emphasized that the promised interventions have yet to materialize. They stressed that without immediate action to address the financial gaps, schools would face significant operational difficulties, undermining the objectives of the Free SHS programme.
In light of these challenges, IFEST has underscored the need for a critical reassessment of the Free SHS policy. Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, Patrick Danquah, Deputy Director of IFEST, highlighted the importance of involving parents in bearing part of the costs associated with secondary education. He argued that parents who were previously managing these expenses effectively should be allowed to contribute, as this would alleviate the financial strain on the government and ensure the programme’s continuity.
“Free SHS needs to be reviewed so that they can relook at the element of taking part of the cost and allowing the parents who were handling the costs better to continue to handle it the way they did,” Danquah stated.
The Free SHS policy, introduced to provide universal access to secondary education, has faced criticism over its implementation and financial sustainability. While the programme has significantly increased enrollment rates and expanded access to education, stakeholders have raised concerns about its impact on school operations, particularly in the face of delayed disbursement of funds.
CHASS has been at the forefront of advocating for timely financial support to ensure the effective running of schools. The group’s recent communiqué paints a dire picture of the situation, with schools struggling to meet basic operational needs. This has raised questions about the feasibility of maintaining a fully government-funded model without compromising the quality of education and the well-being of students.
The call for a review of the policy has sparked a broader debate about the role of parents in financing secondary education. Proponents of cost-sharing argue that it would provide schools with additional resources to address their challenges, while critics fear that it could exclude financially disadvantaged families. However, IFEST maintains that a balanced approach, where parents who can afford to contribute do so, would enhance the programme’s sustainability while preserving its core objective of ensuring access to education for all.
As the reopening date for the 2025 academic year approaches, the concerns raised by CHASS and IFEST highlight the urgent need for stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the challenges facing the Free SHS policy. The financial constraints currently faced by schools not only threaten their ability to operate effectively but also risk undermining the broader goal of providing quality education to Ghanaian students.
The Ministry of Education has yet to respond to CHASS’s recent communiqué or provide updates on the disbursement of the overdue funds. Meanwhile, education experts and stakeholders continue to call for innovative solutions to ensure that the Free SHS programme remains viable and impactful. The proposed cost-sharing model, if implemented thoughtfully, could be a step toward achieving this goal while addressing the financial challenges currently plaguing the system.
The ongoing discourse surrounding the Free SHS policy underscores the complexity of balancing universal access to education with financial sustainability. While the programme has undoubtedly transformed the educational landscape, its long-term success hinges on the ability to address the challenges it faces. As stakeholders deliberate on the way forward, the voices of institutions like IFEST and CHASS serve as a reminder of the critical need for a pragmatic and inclusive approach to policy implementation.
The Free SHS programme remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s education policy, with the potential to drive significant social and economic progress. However, ensuring its success requires a collective effort to overcome the obstacles that threaten its sustainability. As the new academic year approaches, the urgency of addressing these challenges cannot be overstated. Whether through cost-sharing, timely disbursement of funds, or other innovative measures, the ultimate goal must be to safeguard the future of education in Ghana while preserving the principles of equity and access that underpin the Free SHS policy.
