Introduction
The Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, introduced by the Ghanaian government in 2017, aimed to provide free secondary education to all students (Government of Ghana, 2017). While this policy has increased access to education for many students, it has also raised concerns about its impact on the quality of education and the sustainability of the policy (Akyeampong, 2017). Recently, the running mate to John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) proposed that well-established and big schools in Ghana should be excluded from benefiting from the free SHS policy (Citifmonline, 2020). This article argues in favour of this proposition.
The Burden of Infrastructure and Resources
Well-established schools in Ghana such Prempeh, Mawuli, PRESEC, Bishop Herman, Wesley Girls, and Achimota, et cetera, often have better infrastructure and resources compared to smaller schools (Ghana Education Service, 2020). However, with the introduction of the free SHS policy, these schools have seen a significant increase in student enrollment, putting a strain on their resources (Adu-Gyamfi, 2018). Excluding these schools from the policy would allow them to maintain their current standards and focus on providing quality education rather than struggling to cope with the increased demand.
The Issue of Equity
Proponents of the free SHS policy argue that it promotes equity by providing access to education for all students, regardless of their socio-economic background (Okudzeto, 2017). However, excluding well-established schools from the policy would not necessarily undermine this goal. Instead, the government could focus on providing support to smaller schools and disadvantaged communities, where access to education is limited (Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, 2020).
The Need for Targeted Intervention
The free SHS policy is a blanket intervention that benefits all schools, regardless of their needs or circumstances (Akyeampong, 2017). However, a more targeted approach would be more effective in addressing the specific challenges faced by different schools. By excluding well-established schools from the policy, the government could free up and redirect resources to schools that need them most (Ghana Education Service, 2020).
Conclusion
In conclusion, excluding well-established and big schools in Ghana from benefiting from the free SHS policy is a viable proposition. This would allow these schools to maintain their current standards, promote equity by targeting support to smaller schools and disadvantaged communities, and enable the government to adopt a more targeted approach to addressing the specific challenges faced by different schools. Ultimately, this would contribute to a more sustainable and effective education system in Ghana.
Recommendations
Based on the analysis, the following recommendations are made:
1. The government should exclude well-established and big schools from the free SHS policy to allow them to maintain their current standards and focus on providing quality education.
2. The government should focus on providing support to smaller schools and disadvantaged communities, where access to education is limited.
3. The government should adopt a more targeted approach to addressing the specific challenges faced by different schools, rather than implementing a blanket policy.
By Peter Kojo Apisawu
References:
Adu-Gyamfi, J. (2018) ‘Free SHS policy: A blessing or a curse?’, Daily Graphic, 10 October.
Akyeampong, K. (2017) ‘Free SHS policy: A critical analysis’, Ghanaian Times, 20 September.
Citifmonline (2020) ‘Exclude well-established schools from free SHS policy – Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang’, Citifmonline, 3 November.
Ghana Education Service (2020) Education Sector Performance Report. Accra: Ghana Education Service.
Ghana Government (2017) Free Senior High School Policy. Accra: Ministry of Education.
Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (2020) Education for All: A Review of Ghana’s Progress. Accra: Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition.
Okudzeto, A. (2017) ‘Free SHS policy: A game-changer for Ghana’s education’, Ghanaian Times, 15 September.