A recent report released by Africa Education Watch has shed light on the government’s expenditure on senior high school students under the Free SHS policy from the 2017/18 to the 2021/22 academic years. The findings reveal that while the government’s spending per student amounted to GH¢1,241, parents, on average, contributed GH¢4,185 annually during this period.
The report underscores the challenges the government faces in sustaining the Free SHS policy, particularly evident in the continuous decline of its budget credibility rate from the 2019/20 academic year to 2021/22.
In response to these revelations, the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has called for a comprehensive review of the policy. NAGRAT proposes that parents who are financially capable should be allowed to cover their children’s educational expenses, including fees and other associated costs.
Citing concerns over equity, NAGRAT spokesperson emphasized the disparities between students who commute to school daily and those in boarding facilities provided by the government. The spokesperson stated, “Someone who lives in Dansoman, and attends school in, let’s say, Kaneshie. If he or she sleeps in the mother’s house, eats the mother’s food, and takes transportation from Dansoman to Kaneshie to and fro… So where then is the equity principle?”
NAGRAT believes that implementing such changes would alleviate some of the financial burden currently shouldered by the government.
As debates over the sustainability and equity of the Free SHS policy continue, stakeholders are urged to consider the broader implications and explore viable solutions to ensure access to quality education for all students across Ghana.
