By Both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are facing mounting pressure to outline a systematic approach to reviewing the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy in their respective manifestoes.
The call for a re-evaluation of the Free SHS policy has gained prominence following the release of the JoyNews Hotline documentary titled “Empty Plates,” which shed light on the inadequate meals provided to students.
This demand for a review was underscored during the JoyNews’ Ghana Connect Townhall meeting held in Kumasi on March 26. Numerous participants strongly urged both the NDC and the NPP to provide clarity on their policy stance and manifesto plans to ensure the sustainability of the Free SHS program.
Teacher Perfect Aseye Nani expressed that while the policy has been beneficial, it’s now imperative to reassess it. She noted a perception that the policy prioritizes the quantity of beneficiaries over the quality of education.
“Free SHS is a nice policy, it has helped so many people but I think that there are so many things that need to be done. It might be free today but there is a fee (price) to pay. Why am I saying this? What is the main objective of Free SHS? Is it to provide quality education or it is about the quantity or the number of students that have benefited from the Free SHS?
“Now when you come to the grounds, you will see that things are not working well but they [government] are not telling us the truth. I don’t know whether they have feedback from the grounds on what is actually going on,” she said.
She challenged the leading political parties to be sincere about their approach to resolving the education crisis.
“I dare the NDC and NPP to boldly come in their manifestoes to tell us how they want to review this free SHS because it is costing us a lot.
“I will suggest that Ghana needs more of the TVET education. So they should make the TVET free but if you want to go to SHS, the government can take part [of the school fee] and leave the rest for the parents to do.
“Now they [students] are in school and feeding them is a problem but the government is still insisting on free. Our kids are being starved. So, I urge the NDC and the NPP to come boldly and tell us what they want Ghanaians to benefit from Free SHS,” she added.
Christiana Osei further suggested that the government redirect the funds allocated to the Free SHS program into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
She argued that there was a human resource gap in technical and vocational skills, therefore, the government could bridge this gap by making technical and vocational education more attractive to the youth.
“Please, I think my sister [Perfect] just made a part of my suggestion, in respect to the TVET being free. To me it shouldn’t just be free but it should be made very attractive.
“Students completing TVET education should also be given equipment to start their own business. In doing so, I think the rate of unemployment will come down. They will also employ some of their sisters or brothers in the house,” she said.
