Ace journalist and host of Peace FM Kokrokoo show, Kwame Sefa Kayi in his call for the government to review free SHS for better outcomes has suggested for school and library fees to be absorbed leaving other fees for parents to pay.
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Speaking on his morning show, Mr Sefa said the implementation of the popular Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme some five years ago has come a long way and thus needs to be reviewed by the central government.
According to him, procurement school items including uniforms and past questions among other things for final year Senior High School (SHS) students preparing to sit for WASSCE for School are expenditure that needs to be cut off.
“It’s been 5 years since we rolled the Free SHS programme. I don’t understand why we have not done any review on it. We can make tuition-free but charge those at boarding houses,” the Despite media presenter said on Kokrokoo show.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum despite the call for the 5-year-old Free SHS program to be reviewed has said the free secondary school initiative is not facing challenges as some Ghanaians claim.
Describing the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy as a permanent feature, the Bosomtwe Member of Parliament said there are no challenges, hence no need for parents to pay to sustain the popular social intervention program.
“I do not see why people are making the argument that we are under stress. I do not see why those who pay taxes should now be called upon to pay school fees,” the Minister in charge of Education told the media last year.
In a recent interview monitored by EducationWeb, Dr Adutwum said about 1.39 million students are expected to benefit from the Free Senior High School and Technical Vocational and Education Training (Free SHS/TVET) in 2022.
He explained that the enrollment this year will increase amid the central government decision to include TVET schools in the Free SHS policy to ensure more successful BECE students continue their education at the secondary level for free.
“A total of 1.39 million students are expected to benefit from the Free Senior High School and Technical Vocational and Education Training (Free SHS/TVET) this academic year when the school placements are out,” the Minister disclosed.