Accra: The government has announced that it is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, citing growing pressures on infrastructure and student feeding as enrolment continues to rise. Speaking during a monitoring visit to the Eastern Region, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, noted that Ghana must confront the reality that school infrastructure has not kept pace with the exponential increase in student numbers following the introduction of Free SHS.
According to Ghana Web, the review is part of President Mahama's 'Reset Agenda,' with the government emphasizing its commitment to a full assessment of the policy. Haruna Iddrisu stated that the review process is already underway, aiming to address key challenges faced by the programme. He clarified the purpose of the review, highlighting that it should not be mistaken for a cancellation of the initiative.
The review will focus on three key areas, starting with infrastructure development. The government plans to implement the 'Star J Initiative,' which aims to expand classrooms, laboratories, and lecture halls to accommodate the increasing number of students accessing secondary education. This initiative is a direct response to the infrastructure challenges that have arisen since the launch of the Free SHS programme.
The second area of focus is the school feeding system. The government has uncapped the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to ensure adequate financing for student feeding needs. Haruna Iddrisu mentioned that the GETFund allocates approximately four billion annually to support this aspect, although his statement was incomplete.
The Free SHS programme was introduced in 2017 by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government to expand access to secondary education and reduce the financial burden on parents. The ongoing review aims to enhance the programme's effectiveness and sustainability in the face of growing demands.