TIG Post

Tag: Free SHS

  • Bawumia touts NPP’s efforts in championing education of Ghanaian children

    Bawumia touts NPP’s efforts in championing education of Ghanaian children

    Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has asserted that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has demonstrated its trustworthiness in the education of Ghanaian children. 

    This declaration underscores the party’s commitment and track record in the educational sector under its leadership.

    Addressing the 63rd Conference of the Ghana Muslim Mission in Kumasi on Saturday, December 31, Vice President Dr. Bawumia emphasized that with 7 years of dedicated investment in the Free SHS policy and its evident positive impact, the NPP proudly presents a substantial track record in effectively overseeing the education of Ghanaian children. 

    Dr. Bawumia, who listed the successes of the Free SHS policy, including an increase in enrollment from 800,000 to 1.4m in seven years and gender parity in enrollment, said some people predicted doom for Free SHS, and are now denigrating the success of the policy.

    “While the government rolled out the Free SHS policy, much to the excitement and relief of parents, some pessimists predicted doom for Free SHS,” said Dr. Bawumia.

    “They said Free SHS was a scam. They said it was 419 and they said if they 2 billion cedis to spend, they won’t spend it on Free SHS.” They said Free SHS will lower the quality of educational standards.

    Dr. Bawumia added that “at the end of the 2023 WASSCE, nearly 70% of Ghanaian students who sat the exam passed, representing the highest pass rate since 2015.”

    “There are those, who, instead of congratulating the students and their hard-working teachers for their remarkable success, are rather denigrating their efforts, by questioning the credibility of the score of the WAEC exams they wrote,”

    Dr. Bawumia also reminded the audience that the last NDC government also cancelled allowances for teacher trainees, nursing trainees and Arabic instructors and it took The NPP government to restore these allowances. In addition, the NPP government introduced free TVET education.

    While slamming the negative attitude of “Our opponent” to Free SHS and other educational initiatives, Dr. Bawumia concluded that “the future of the education of Ghanaian children will be safer in the hands of the NPP”.

    “We, the NPP, have demonstrated that we can be trusted with the education of our children,” he said.

    “Free SHS will not be safe in the hands of our main opponent. Let us not sacrifice the future of our children on the altar of people’s political ambitions,“ he added.

  • Belittling Free SHS and its results disheartening – Oppong-Nkrumah tells Mahama

    Belittling Free SHS and its results disheartening – Oppong-Nkrumah tells Mahama

    Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, has conveyed profound disappointment with former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent remarks that downplayed the success of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, deeming them “woefully disheartening.”

    Addressing journalists during the Christmas festivities in Akim Anyinase, Minister Oppong-Nkrumah criticized Mahama for his attempt to undermine the accomplishments of SHS graduates.

    “It is disheartening to observe how Former President Mahama will go all lengths to belittle the Free SHS programme and its results simply because it didn’t emanate from him,” stated Minister Oppong-Nkrumah.

    The recently disclosed 2023 WASSCE results, lauded as the best since 2015, are being credited to the positive influence of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

    However, former President Mahama, during his country tour, cast doubt on the integrity of the examination results, citing malpractices and alleging collusion between students and teachers to cheat.

    In response to Mr. Mahama’s assertions, the legislator for Ofoase Ayirebi expressed shock and disappointment at the accusations of malpractices and cheating.

    The legislator emphasized that such comments undermine the hard work and achievements of the students who have benefited from the Free SHS initiative.

    “While he may not like the entire SHS program, he shouldn’t try so hard to denigrate the beneficiaries. Yes, the program may have some challenges, but to say that even the exceptional success of the students is fake is just amazing,” the Minister added.

    Minister Oppong-Nkrumah recalled the strong opposition from Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, highlighting that the recent comments from the former President are a continuation of that stance.

    He urged for constructive discussions aimed at improving the Free SHS initiative and enhancing the education sector. Minister Oppong-Nkrumah emphasized that Ghana would benefit more from collaborative ideas rather than attempts to undermine the efforts and achievements of the beneficiaries of the Free SHS policy.

  • Bawumia hails WASSCE results as proof of Free SHS success

    Bawumia hails WASSCE results as proof of Free SHS success

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has hailed the recently released 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, asserting that they showcase the high calibre of students in Ghana’s Senior High School (SHS) education sector.

    In a statement on Monday, December 18, 2023, Dr Bawumia addressed critics of the results, emphasizing the excellence of Ghanaian students. He presented data from the WASSCE results, highlighting outstanding achievements by SHS students on both national and international platforms.

    “Our SHS students go from Keta SHS to Harvard University and excel.

    “Our girls at Mamfe Senior High go for a world competition in robotics and win against teams from the USA, Germany, and South Korea.

    “Our boys from Prempeh College have won robotics world competitions against global competitors many times.

    “Yet when these same students excel at WASSCE, some people, for political reasons, even question the integrity of their results! Why do some always believe that it is impossible for our students or our people to be the best? It is possible!” Dr Bawumia emphasised.

    Dr Bawumia’s post on Facebook on December 19th 2023

    He congratulated the candidates for their “excellent” performance in the 2023 exam and urged a shift in the perception that doubts the capabilities of Ghanaian students.

    According to data shared by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), 73.11% of students who sat for this year’s exam obtained grades A1-C6 in all core subjects. This marks the highest performance since 2015.

    “2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are the Free SHS Graduates and the only years in the past 8 years that more than 50% of candidates obtained A1-C6 in All Core subjects,” a footnote accompanying the data shared by Dr Bawumia read.

    The Free SHS policy, introduced by the government in 2017, aims to provide free education from basic to secondary level to all Ghanaian children. The policy has been praised by some as a major achievement in expanding access and quality of education, but also criticised by others as unsustainable and poorly implemented

  • Free SHS achieves record-breaking WASSCE results in 2023

    Free SHS achieves record-breaking WASSCE results in 2023

    WAEC’s provisional results for the WASSCE, released on Monday, December 18, 2023, indicate that Ghanaian students have achieved their best outcomes since the implementation of the Free SHS policy in September 2017.

    The press release, dated December 18, 2023, and signed by John Kapi, WAEC’s head of public affairs, reports that a total of 448,674 candidates, comprising 212,453 males and 236,221 females from 975 schools, participated in the 2023 examination.

    This figure reflects a 5.8% increase from the 2022 entry figure of 422,883. The results for the “Ghana-only version” of the examination highlight the best performances in English, Integrated Science, and Social Studies from 2015 to 2023 and the third-best results in Mathematics over the same period.

    According to WAEC’s published data, the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 have seen over 50% of Free SHS graduates achieving aggregates A1 to C6 in all core subjects.

    The data further reveals that the percentages recorded for English Language (73.11%), Integrated Science (66.82%), and Social Studies (76.76%) in the 2023 examinations represent the highest performances on record since 2015.

    The examination was, however, not without irregularities. WAEC in their statement noted that “following the completion of investigations into some of the cases of irregularity reported during the conduct of the examination, the 35th Meeting of the Ghana Examinations Committee, held on Wednesday, 13 December 2023 approved as follows:”

    “First, cancellation of subject results of 3,647 candidates for bringing foreign material like prepared notes, textbooks, and printed material into the examination halls.

    “Second, the cancellation of the entire results of 839 candidates for possession of mobile phones in the examination halls, and lastly, the withholding of subject results of 4,280 candidates and the entire results of 1,005 for various suspected offenses” the WAEC statement read.

    “Yet still, some subject results of candidates from 235 schools have been withheld for collusion and the use of artificial intelligence-generated answers. These cases are still under investigation. The withheld results of these candidates may be released or cancelled depending on the outcome of investigations” the statement further read.

  • Strictly adhere to GES, MOE guidelines – Dr Apaak tells SHS heads

    Strictly adhere to GES, MOE guidelines – Dr Apaak tells SHS heads

    Dr. Clement Apaak, the Member of Parliament for Bulsa South and Ranking Member of Education in Parliament, has urged senior high school headteachers to strictly adhere to guidelines set by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

    He emphasized the importance of refraining from imposing unapproved fees, echoing this sentiment in response to the suspension of certain headmasters in seven senior high schools nationwide by the GES for violating directives against charging additional fees to parents.

    Dr. Apaak endorsed the plea made by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) leadership, supporting their call for headteachers not to independently procure logistics and to await government provisions.

    NAGRAT President Angel Carbonou emphasized compliance with regulations and the prompt reporting of deficiencies, allowing relevant authorities to intervene.

    The Ghana Education Service took decisive action by suspending headmasters in seven senior high schools in the Ashanti Region due to unauthorized fund collection from candidates.

    The affected schools include Kumasi Girls, Asanteman, Kumasi Manso Adubia, Agric Nzema Community, Nkawie, and Collins Senior High School.

  • Report shows other expenses incurred by parents of free SHS students outweigh govt spending 

    Report shows other expenses incurred by parents of free SHS students outweigh govt spending 

    Parents whose wards are enrolled under government’s flagship programme in Education, free Senior High School (free SHS), spend more on other expenses than the cost the government incurs, a study has revealed.

    The study was conducted by Africa Education Watch, an educational civil society organization.

    In essence, the financial burden on parents for certain school-related items surpasses the expenses covered by the government through the Free Senior High School program in Africa.

    Africa Education Watch found that the government’s average spending per student in boarding schools was GHC 1,147, and for day students, it was GHC 1,107. 

    This indicates the amount the government allocates or spends per student in both boarding and day schools within the context of the study. 

    The figures reflect the financial commitment per student by the government for these specific types of schools in the education system.

    The education think tank stated that parents spent GHS 2,477 on prospectuses for their wards in boarding schools and an additional GHS 4,000 on other personal items, including perfume, detergents, and sanitary pads, during the 2021–2022 academic year.

    Mr. Divine Kpe, Senior Programs Officer at Africa Education Watch, made the presentation during a conference on education financing in Accra.

    The report focused on the topic “The Financial Burden of the Free SHS Policy and Implications for Equitable Access to Education.”

    The cost borne by the government was analyzed using Free SHS budgetary allocations and expenditures obtained from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, and Parliament for the academic years 2017–18 to 2022–23.

    The cost to parents was analyzed using historical prices of prospectus items from the Ghana Statistical Service to cost prospectuses obtained from schools.

    According to Africa Education Watch’s report, the prices of prospectuses increased by 38 percent, starting from an initial percentage of 36 during the initial implementation stage of the policy.

    Mr. Kpe stated that parents of continuing-day students reported spending an average of GH¢4,400 annually on their children’s education, including transportation (40 percent), breakfast (50 percent), and books (10 percent).

    The think tank in its report also revealed that parents of day students spent GHC 5,507 inclusive of prospectus costs, outweighing the government’s spending of GHS 1,107.

    The report disclosed that financial constraints contributed to a 15 percent failure of candidates to honour their admission in the 2022–2023 academic year.

    It attributed the failure to honour admission to the high cost of prospectuses and other education materials.

    To minimize the cost burden of prospectuses, the report recommended that, in the medium to long term, the Ministry of Education must develop and implement a strategy to focus on children from the poorest households using data from the LEAP program.

    The report revealed that this approach would enable the government to spend more to cover the full cost of secondary education for students from low-income households.

    The report recommended that the Ministry of Finance improve the disbursement of funds under the policy in line with the objectives, implementation arrangements, and cash flow projections.

  • SHS first-year students receive trunks, cash and others from Kumawu MP

    SHS first-year students receive trunks, cash and others from Kumawu MP

    With the commencement of the new academic year for Senior High Schools (SHSs), the onus is on parents or guardians to obtain essential academic materials for their wards entering this level for the first time.

    Acquiring these items, as mandated by various second-cycle institutions, poses a significant challenge for parents, particularly those experiencing financial constraints.

    Many depend on the assistance of charitable individuals and organizations to help them purchase these essential items.

    In response to the financial challenges faced by parents, Ernest Yaw Anim, the Member of Parliament for Kumawu Constituency, has taken prompt action to ease the burden.

    The legislator has distributed trunks, chop boxes, cash, and exercise books to some exceptional students who graduated from public Junior High Schools in the Constituency this year and have gained admission to various Senior High Schools across the country.


    In collaboration with the Sekyere Kumawu District Ghana Education Service (GES), the items were presented to deserving students from forty-five (45) public basic schools on Saturday, 9th December 2023. The distribution took place at two events in Kumawu (Party office) and Oyoko (his Administrative office).

    This fulfillment of the promise follows Member of Parliament Ernest Yaw Anim’s commitment to providing these essential items free of charge to high-achieving candidates before the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    He noted, “During the 2023 BECE, I promised to reward high-achieving pupils as a form of encouragement for them to learn and set an example for younger ones. This is a modest gesture considering the items listed in the prospectus. While we laud the efforts made by parents, it is worth noting that not all of them can afford these items, especially with Christmas fast approaching.”

    “I also promised that the overall best 2023 BECE candidate will be given a laptop, with an emphasis on public schools. Currently, the laptop is ready, and I am awaiting the candidate’s name from the District’s Education Service,” Ernest Yaw Anim reiterated.

    Nana Agyemang Prempeh, the New Patriotic Party’s Constituency Chairman, mentioned that “this is just the beginning of the many good things to come. I encourage everyone who received these items to prioritize their studies while we hope for this support to continue each year.”

    Acknowledging the benefits of Free SHS, Samuel Addai Agyekum, the DCE for Sekyere Kumawu District Assembly, stated that “what MP has done is an act of the gospel – this has enabled someone to pursue education who might have otherwise been hindered.”

    The distribution of essential items by the Member of Parliament for Kumawu Constituency underscores his dedication to championing education at all levels within the jurisdiction.

  • Ola Girls SHS defies Free SHS policy, charges parents GHC2,212 for admission

    Some parents and guardians of first-year students admitted to Ola Girls SHS have expressed shock and dismay at the exorbitant fees they are required to pay before their wards are enrolled.

    According to information obtained by The Independent Ghana from reliable sources, the management of the school is charging over GHC2,210 for 10 items, including uniform, anniversary cloth, PTA levy, extra classes, feeding support, anniversary levy, school hymnal, house jersey, house bedsheet, and packing fee.

    A guardian who spoke to The Independent Ghana confirmed that he had paid for these items before his ward was enrolled, and provided receipts issued by the school, to corroborate his claim.

    Ola Girls receipt
    Ola Girls receipt
    Ola Girls receipt
    Ola Girls receipt
    Ola Girls receipt

    The fees being charged by Ola Girls SHS have sparked outrage on social media, as many users have questioned the relevance and legality of some of the items, especially the anniversary levy and the packing fee.

    Others have also accused the headteacher of the school of exploiting the parents and guardians to generate more revenue for the school, as the government has not been able to meet all the demands of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

    The Free SHS policy, which was introduced by the government in 2017, is meant to allow students in secondary cycle institutions to access free education, as well as some items such as textbooks, uniforms, and meals.

    However, some parents and guardians have complained that they are still paying for some items that are supposed to be provided by the government, or are being forced to buy items that are not approved by the education authorities.

    This information comes at a time when the Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted 11 headteachers of various SHSs across the country for imposing unapproved fees or selling unauthorized items to first-year students during the enrolment process.

    Seven of the affected headteachers are from the Ashanti Region, two from the Greater Accra Region, and two from the Eastern Region.

    The GES has announced that it has initiated investigations into the actions of the implicated headteachers, and has warned other headteachers to adhere to the government’s policy prohibiting the sale of items to students within school premises.

    The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has also issued a stern warning to headteachers nationwide, urging them to respect the Free SHS policy and refrain from charging parents and guardians for items that are not approved by the GES.

  • Video: How 10 students share one tiny fish under Free SHS

    Video: How 10 students share one tiny fish under Free SHS

    A video shared by social media influencer KalyJay has confirmed the many challenges facing government over the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

    One of the main challenges has to do with financial resources, which has adversely impacted the supply of food to schools for students.

    In the video credited to Kobby Kyei News shared by KalyJay, students of a senior high school are gathered at the cafeteria for lunch. A table hosts about 10 students. The meal to be eaten was rice and groundnut soup. The rice was to be dished from a saucepan, which is definitely not sufficient for 10 male teens.

    Most shocking was the content of the soup. To the surprise of blogger, Kobby Kyei, who can be heard interrogating the students, he found a tiny fish in the soup to be distributed among 10 students.

    He asked, “So this is for all of you. One fish is for all of you?” Kobby Kyei moved to another table and found out the same fate.

    Companies that have been contracted by the government to provide foodstuffs and school materials to SHSs say that they are yet to receive payment from the government.

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, made this known in a press release.

    “While at it, be informed that some suppliers of school uniforms and sports apparels have indicated privately, that government owes them too. Equally intriguing is, that since the implementation of the fSHS, some absorbed fees have never been released to schools, thereby creating some serious financial management constraints for Heads of Secondary Schools, in those respects,” Dr. Clement Apaak

    Since 2022, SHSs have had to battle the shortage of food, which led to some students abandoning school for their respective homes.

  • Over 300,000 maggot-infested bags of rice distributed to Senior High Schools – MP reveals

    Over 300,000 maggot-infested bags of rice distributed to Senior High Schools – MP reveals

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, who serves as the minority spokesperson on education, has made shocking claims during the 2024 budget statement on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

    According to Nortsu-Kotoe, over 300,000 bags of maggot-infested rice, known as ‘Lamens’ from India, have been distributed to Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.

    The MP alleged that the rice, which had been imported in 2021, was stored in a warehouse due to the importer’s failure to pay the required duty.

    Despite the apparent danger it posed to health, Nortsu-Kotoe claimed that the rice was later distributed to schools.

    “Mr. Speaker, as we speak now, there is some rice in the system that has been supplied to Senior High Schools. They call it Lamens, from India. This rice, Mr. Speaker, is maggot-infested,” he asserted.

    He went on to explain the concerning timeline, stating, “When it was imported in 2021, the suppliers or the importers did not pay for the duty on the rice, so it had to be stored in a warehouse. Now they have nicodemusly gone to remove this rice and have distributed them to the Senior High Schools, about 5,000 metric tonnes, which is over 300,000 bags of rice.”

    “The rice is about to expire. A few weeks to expire, they have now distributed them to the Senior High Schools in the country and that is what they are feeding our children with…. Mr. Speaker, this is so serious that we must look at it carefully. Our children, if we don’t take care, when they come back home, they are going to suffer diarrhea and other forms of diseases,” he added.

    The Free SHS policy, which was implemented by the government in 2017, aims to provide free education to all eligible students in public Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The policy covers the cost of tuition, textbooks, meals, boarding, and other fees. The policy has been praised for increasing access and enrolment to secondary education, but also criticized for its challenges in funding, quality, and infrastructure.

  • Govt has completed re-evaluation of Free SHS, other programmes – Finance Minister

    Govt has completed re-evaluation of Free SHS, other programmes – Finance Minister

    With the support of the World Bank, the government has successfully concluded the process of rationalizing certain social intervention programs, including the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative.

    Some of these programs have drawn increased attention from the nation’s development partners due to concerns about rising expenditures.

    The primary objective is to encourage the government to reduce the country’s growing debt burden and create additional fiscal space. As part of this rationalization, certain programs may undergo reviews regarding their funding.

    Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will provide further insights into this development during an upcoming episode of the PM Express Business Edition, scheduled to air on Thursday, October 19, 2023.

    “These are parts of the structural benchmarks that were needed for the (IMF) approval,” he said.

    Mr. Ofori-Atta emphasized the importance of reviewing these programs to facilitate the disbursement of approximately $500 million by the World Bank under the IMF program for Ghana by December 2023.

    He further revealed that a total of around 17 programs were evaluated and will be included in the 2024 budget, with comprehensive information provided.

    Characterizing the forthcoming funds from the World Bank as well-timed, Mr. Ofori-Atta underscored that this development underscores the government’s commitment to meeting all the necessary benchmarks for fully restoring the economy to a path of recovery.

    “If you look at everything, it continues to show the favour that we have found and the hard break that we have done”, he said.

    Additionally, Mr. Ofori-Atta mentioned that the Ghana Financial Stabilization Fund will lead to an injection of approximately $250 million from the World Bank to bolster this financial institution.

    He expressed optimism that this funding will contribute to the reinforcement of bank recapitalization efforts, especially local banks that have been significantly impacted by the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.

  • Allow SHS authorities to purchase food items to feed students – CHASS to govt

    Allow SHS authorities to purchase food items to feed students – CHASS to govt

    The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has voiced its dissatisfaction regarding the prolonged delay in distributing food supplies to Senior High Schools nationwide.

    CHASS is calling for Senior High Schools to have the option to procure their own food supplies for their students.

    Addressing the 61st National Annual Conference, Reverend Steven Owusu Sekyere, the President of CHASS, emphasized the need for CHASS to have a say in the selection of food supplies for schools.

    He pointed out that allowing schools to independently purchase their food supplies would help resolve the logistical and operational issues that frequently disrupt food distribution to various SHSs across the country.

    “We are urging management to ensure a timely release of the entire funding for schools to make our work less stressful, and monies allocated for all activities must be increased significantly to meet the current market price of goods and services. This will help to provide our students with the required resources for their educational needs,” he said.

    “CHASS also passionately wishes to reiterate our plea to management to allow the various schools to procure the food items to feed the students. This has been our unblemished request for years, and it is due to the way some suppliers sometimes disappoint us in supplying some food items on time. We are of the firm belief that procuring the food items by ourselves will reduce the logistical and operational challenges that come with it,” he added.

  • Cost of implementing Free SHS has significantly affected govt’s budget, must be reviewed – Alan

    Leader of the Movement for Change, John Alan Kyerematen, has noted that one of the initiatives his administration would see to is the review of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

    According to him, this has become imperative as the cost of implementing the “excellent” programme has become a challenge.

    In an interview on TV3, the former Trade Minister noted that the government’s budget has been hit hard owing to the programme, hence the need for a more sustainable financing mechanism.

    “Normally, for program implementation, after five years, you need a review. So in my own thinking, I feel that it is an excellent idea. We have made a lot of progress in terms of school enrollment. Fantastic results. But then the cost associated with the implementation of the Free SHS has had a significant impact on our national budget. And so if we are going to continue with the programme, we have to find a more sustainable financing mechanism for it,” he said.

    On the matter, Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. John Kumah, has debunked speculations about the government’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy burdening public purse.

    He clarified that the expenditure on Free SHS is not a significant factor compared to the country’s overall budget and highlighted that the real concern is the nation’s debt.

    In a recent interview before the 2023 mid-year budget review, Dr. Kumah emphasized that the allocation for Free SHS in the 2023 budget was GH¢2.9 billion, while the entire appropriation for the year amounted to GH¢228 billion.

    “It’s not true that Free SHS is a huge elephant in the room. The allocation for Free SHS in the 2023 budget was GH¢2.9 billion, and the entire appropriation for the year was GH¢228 billion. You cannot tell me that if you are spending GH¢2.9 billion out of GH¢228 billion, that is the elephant in the room. And this is covering over 1.3 million Ghanaian children. The elephant in the room is our debt, the interest payments we made.

    “The impact and benefits of Free SHS go to the core of the vulnerable and, of course, the future of the human resource of our country. And for me, that is non-negotiable,” he stated.

    He argued that spending GH¢2.9 billion out of GH¢228 billion could not be considered the “elephant in the room.” Moreover, he stressed that the Free SHS program was instrumental in benefiting over 1.3 million Ghanaian children and was crucial for the vulnerable sections of society.

  • You can’t neglect your responsibilities due to Free SHS – Parents told

    You can’t neglect your responsibilities due to Free SHS – Parents told

    Togbe Dzegblade IV, the Chief of Adaklu Kodzobi in the Adaklu District, emphasized that the government’s implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme should not serve as an excuse for parents to shirk their responsibilities regarding their children’s education.

    He pointed out that while the initiative was commendable, some individuals were using it as a reason to transfer all their parental duties to the government.

    Togbe Dzegblade made these remarks during an end-of-year celebration he organized for teachers and students of the Adaklu Kodzobi District Assembly Basic School.

    Togbe Dzegblade said the scenario was like “somebody who bought a lamp for you, and you were waiting for the person to always provide you with oil.”

    He acknowledged that the government’s duty was to ensure that education is accessible and affordable to all children. However, he added that parents also had a crucial role to play in nurturing their children’s academic capabilities.

    “Poverty, disease and ignorance can only be eliminated from society if we invest our resources in our children to reach the apex of the academic ladder,” he noted.

    Togbe Dzegblade told the pupils to begin building their future now, adding, “if the foundation you laid is strong then you are assured of a strong and successful future.”

    He encouraged them to resist peer pressure and avoid engaging in any negative behaviors that could jeopardize their future.

    He advised them to view the school’s adoption by the University of Health and Allied Sciences for the Raising Next Professionals Initiative, introduced by the Ghana Association of University Administrators, as an opportunity to chart a professional path for themselves.

    Togbe Dzegblade commended the school’s teachers for their unwavering commitment and dedication to their work. He also commended them for maintaining a clean school environment and urged them to continue their efforts, promising to reward them later for their dedication to cleanliness.

    He stated that the annual event was a way to express appreciation for the hard work of both teachers and students and to motivate them to achieve even more.

    Mr. Charles Kugbeadzor, the school’s headteacher, expressed gratitude to the chief on behalf of the teachers and students for his kind gesture.

    Also in attendance were Mr. Victor Kukah, Chairman of the School Management Committee, and some community leaders.

  • Public purse is not burdened by Free SHS policy – Deputy Finance Minister

    Public purse is not burdened by Free SHS policy – Deputy Finance Minister

    The Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. John Kumah, has debunked speculations about the government’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy burdening public purse.

    He clarified that the expenditure on Free SHS is not a significant factor compared to the country’s overall budget and highlighted that the real concern is the nation’s debt.

    In a recent interview before the 2023 mid-year budget review, Dr. Kumah emphasized that the allocation for Free SHS in the 2023 budget was GH¢2.9 billion, while the entire appropriation for the year amounted to GH¢228 billion.

    “It’s not true that Free SHS is a huge elephant in the room. The allocation for Free SHS in the 2023 budget was GH¢2.9 billion, and the entire appropriation for the year was GH¢228 billion. You cannot tell me that if you are spending GH¢2.9 billion out of GH¢228 billion, that is the elephant in the room. And this is covering over 1.3 million Ghanaian children. The elephant in the room is our debt, the interest payments we made.

    “The impact and benefits of Free SHS go to the core of the vulnerable and, of course, the future of the human resource of our country. And for me, that is non-negotiable,” he stated.

    He argued that spending GH¢2.9 billion out of GH¢228 billion could not be considered the “elephant in the room.” Moreover, he stressed that the Free SHS program was instrumental in benefiting over 1.3 million Ghanaian children and was crucial for the vulnerable sections of society.

    Addressing the importance of Free SHS, Dr. Kumah underlined its significance for the future human resource of the country and asserted that it was a non-negotiable priority. He also reassured the public of the government’s dedication to achieving growth despite fiscal constraints, with the aim of easing the burden on ordinary citizens.

    The Finance Minister also defended the Free SHS initiative, emphasizing the moral obligation to provide access to education for every Ghanaian child.

    However, one of the key challenges faced by some schools is related to feeding, with limited funding and supply constraints affecting their ability to provide adequate meals for students. This has raised concerns that certain schools might have to consider shutting down if these issues persist.

  • Untold hardship is the only thing Free SHS brought – Adawudu

    Untold hardship is the only thing Free SHS brought – Adawudu

    A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal and media team, Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, has stated that the government’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program is causing tremendous hardship for Ghanaians.

    This follows the government’s debt to National Food Suppliers and uniform suppliers to public schools under the Free SHS intervention.

    In an interview with the media, Mr. Adawudu stated that the policy should be reconsidered in order to prevent the economy from collapse.

    “When it comes to the Free SHS, everybody is livid about that. It is bringing untold hardship upon us and this economy. Why is it that the people the government owes, the uniform contractors, cannot even go to court to say that we want our money? Everyone is picketing because citizens are losing faith in our institutions,” he stated.

    The NDC has often advocated for a review of the Free SHS program in order to improve it, but the ruling New Patriotic Party remains firm.

  • Accept ‘half a loaf’ – NDC MP appeals to Free SHS food suppliers on arrears payment

    Accept ‘half a loaf’ – NDC MP appeals to Free SHS food suppliers on arrears payment

    Builsa South MP, Dr Clement Apaak, has urged Free SHS food suppliers to consider accepting a 50% payment of their arrears, as proposed by the government.

    The MP said that even though he is dismayed by the failure of the government to pay the suppliers for several months, they should accept the 50 per cent payment for now, 3news.com reports.

    He, however, cautioned the government not to allow the ordeal the suppliers went through happen again.

    “Half a loaf is better than none is what I will say. First of all, my hope is that the food suppliers would accept the 50 per cent payment. You will recall that only yesterday [Monday, July 17] they had indicated that they wanted full payment so whether they will accept the 50 percent or not we are yet to see.

    “Let this be the last time that we are witnessing such a situation. Government should endeavour to meet its obligations to people that it has a contractual agreement with, particularly to supplying food to our students in the secondary schools,” Dr Apaak is quoted to have said by 3news.com.

    Background:

    The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, announced that 50 per cent of the outstanding payments owed to food suppliers will be disbursed by the end of Wednesday, July 19, 2023,

    He disclosed this when he appeared before Parliament to respond to questions over the debt owed to suppliers, Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

    He told the MPs that a sum of 100 million, representing 50% of the total debt of 203 million, was already transferred to the accounts of the food suppliers on Monday, July 17, 2023.

    “Last week, we received ¢100million which is 50% of what is due to the suppliers’ and we have supplied the same to the Buffer stock. We are hoping that by midweek this week that 50% will be sent to suppliers. I have also assured you that by the 17th of August, the remaining 50% will be paid,” he said.

    The food suppliers picketed at the National Food Buffer Stock Company for days over the failure of the government to pay them for their services since 2021.

  • Only 52 out of Ghana’s 1200 SHSs are category A – Education Minister

    Only 52 out of Ghana’s 1200 SHSs are category A – Education Minister

    Education Minister, Dr Yaw Adutwum has stated that only 54 Senior High Schools out of Ghana’s 1,200 SHSs are category ‘A’ schools.

    He made this statement during an interview with Kwame Appiah Kubi on Kessben Maakye on Kessben TV.

    Below is a complete list of all Senior High Schools of Category ‘A’ in Ghana(2023)

    Senior High School of Fijai
    Serwaa Kesse Senior Girls High School
    Opoku Ware School
    T.I. Ahmadiyya High School for Seniors
    Kumasi Senior High
    Senior High School of Prempeh College Saint Louis
    Yaa Asantewaa Senior Girls’ High School
    Berekum Presby High School for Seniors
    Bolgatanga Senior College
    Abesim Sunyani Senior High School, Our Lady of Providence Senior High School, St. James Seminary/Senior High, and Our Lady of Providence Senior High School
    Notre Dame Senior High School for Girls
    Holy Child School, Cape Coast Mfantsipim School, Adisadel College
    St. Augustine’s University
    Wesley High School for Girls
    Mfantsiman Senior High School for Girls
    Okuapeman High School Senior
    Aburi Senior High School for Girls
    St. Rose’s High School for Seniors
    Ofori Panin High School for Seniors
    St. Peter’s High School for Seniors
    Krobo Senior High School for Girls.
    Ghana Senior High, Koforidua Koforidua Senior High Technical And Min. Seminary
    Accra Academy
    Accra Senior Girls’ High School
    Achimota School Senior High School Mary’s
    St. Thomas Aquinas High School for Seniors
    Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Tema Senior High School (PRESEC)
    Tamale High School St. Charles High School
    Tamale Senior Girls High
    Senior High School of Ghana, Tamale Bolga Female Senior High School
    Navrongo High School for Seniors
    Notre Dame Senior/Middle School
    St. Francis Senior High School for Girls
    Senior High School of Lawra
    Senior High School of Nandom
    Mawuli School, Ho Ola Senior High School for Girls, Ho Bishop Herman College, and Arch Bishop Porter Senior High School for Girls.
    Ghana Senior Technical High
    Sekondi College St. Johns Senior High School, Secondi Ola Girls’ Senior High School, Kenyasi Dr. Yaw Adutwum also stated that the Double Track system has allowed rural Ghanaian pupils to attend some of the country’s finest schools.

    Dr. Adutwum commended the president for implementing the Double Track system in Ghana per his recommendation.

    Since its implementation, some Ghanaians have criticized the Double Track system, arguing that it has severely disrupted the country’s educational calendar. Dr. Adutwum asserts, however, that the advantages of the double-track system have been greater.

    Contrary to what detractors have claimed, he emphasized that not all senior high schools in Ghana currently use the dual track system.

    “Not all Ghanaian senior high schools utilize the double track system. There are many more institutions with the necessary facilities that do not utilize the double-track system.

    The double-track system has had no negative impact on academics. Even more contact hours have been added. Students from rural areas now have the opportunity to attend some of the best institutions in Ghana.

    A student attending Kyeraa would not have been able to attend these large institutions studying engineering, science, and others, but the double track system has made this possible.

  • Free SHS killing us – Kojo Bonsu

    Free SHS killing us – Kojo Bonsu

    A former Mayor of Kumasi and businessman, Kojo Bonsu, has questioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) about the methods it used in implementing the Free SHS policy despite the country’s economic woes.

    The politician said that even if one wants to venture into Free SHS, it shouldn’t be 100 percent. A part payment will suffice.

    The former Mayor of Kumasi was speaking in an interview with Ghanaweb TV.

    In the interview, the politician said that Free SHS under Ghana’s current economic climate is not doable.

    “Who told them to come and do free SHS? …that’s what is killing us,” Kojo said.

    “If the children are not going to school, you give part of school fees payment or find a way of handling it and get more people into going to school than to go 100 percent free SHS; tuition free, accommodation free, everything, school uniforms free. It’s something, I mean, you can’t do it.

    The opposition National Democratic Congress in the lead-up to the 2020 general elections, promised to review the Free SHS policy if the party is elected into power.

    While the opposition argued for a need to review the policy to adjust to the nation’s financial standing, the ruling New Patriotic Party, on the other hand, equated the NDC’s position to a call for the cancellation of the policy.

    The ruling New Patriotic Party, however, maintains that there will be no cancellation of the Free SHS policy.

  • ISSER proposes measures to make free SHS robust

    ISSER proposes measures to make free SHS robust

    The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has put forward a set of proposals aimed at making Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) education system more robust and effective.

    The suggested measures seek to address existing challenges and ensure the program’s sustainability while providing quality education to all eligible students across the country.

    Fresh data released by the Institute has revealed a troubling decline in net enrolment rates (NER) at the primary and junior high school (JHS) levels in Ghana.

    Despite the successful implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, these statistics have raised serious concerns about the sustainability and effectiveness of the education initiative.

    ISSER has now called for a national discussion on the financing of the Free SHS programme, stressing the importance of balanced funding, collaborative efforts, and enhanced monitoring and evaluation.

    The latest publication of the Social Development Outlook by ISSER indicates a significant decrease in NER at both the JHS and primary levels. Since 2017, the NER at the JHS level has steadily declined from around 50% to an average of 45% in 2020. Similarly, at the primary level, the NER has experienced a decline from an average of 91% to 80%. These findings, according to the elite research institution, indicate a worrying trend, suggesting a low transition rate from primary education to JHS and raising concerns about the overall health of the foundational education sector.

    While the Free SHS programme has achieved remarkable success in increasing enrolment rates at the senior high school level, with NER rising from below 30% in 2017 to as high as 70% between 2019 and 2020, the decline in NER at the JHS and primary levels has sparked concerns about the long-term consequences of this policy.

    While the initiative has expanded access to secondary education, it appears to have inadvertently shifted focus away from the fundamental levels of education.

    ISSER has identified several key factors contributing to the decline in NER at the JHS and primary levels. One of the primary challenges is the delay in disbursing the school capitation grant, leaving schools struggling to operate without the necessary funds for nearly a year.

    Furthermore, the routine delay or non-payment of school feeding caterers has become a distressing norm, compromising the provision of nutritious meals to students. These funding issues have created significant hardships for schools, impeding their ability to deliver quality education.

    In response to these pressing challenges, ISSER has put forward a series of recommendations to address the declining enrolment rates and ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the Free SHS programme. The recommendations include:

    • Balanced Funding: ISSER emphasizes the need for the government to allocate resources equitably between the Free SHS programme and basic education, ensuring both sectors receive adequate funding to maintain and improve their quality.
    • Addressing the Access-Quality Imbalance: Striking a balance between expanding access to education and maintaining high-quality standards is crucial. ISSER advocates for investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and educational resources to enhance the overall quality of education at the JHS and primary levels.
    • National Discussion on Free SHS Financing: ISSER calls for a comprehensive national discussion involving policymakers, education experts, stakeholders, and the general public to critically examine the financing mechanisms of the Free SHS programme. This discussion aims to identify sustainable funding sources and address the challenges faced by the basic education sector.
    • Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: ISSER emphasizes the necessity of effective collaboration among all stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, communities, and parents. Such collaboration is vital in developing comprehensive solutions and ensuring the successful implementation of necessary reforms.

    The call to action from ISSER serves as a wake-up call for policymakers and stakeholders to prioritise the basic education sector, provide adequate funding, and work collaboratively to overcome the existing challenges.

    By taking these crucial steps, Ghana can pave the way for a brighter future where every child has access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

  • Free SHS: We are fed up with unfulfilled promises, give us our money – National Food Suppliers to govt

    Free SHS: We are fed up with unfulfilled promises, give us our money – National Food Suppliers to govt

    The National Food Suppliers Association has served notice that its members will continue to protest until their demands are met by government.

    This comes after they met with the Minister of Education over the demands, of which NAFCO has indicated that plans are underway to get the Finance Ministry to release funds to pay them.

    Speaking to the media, the spokesperson for the National Food Suppliers Association, Kwaku Amedume said they will not be moved by empty promises.

    Mr. Amedume indicated that the respective agencies responsible for paying their arrears have been giving members of the Association consistent empty promises so much so that they can no longer put up with such promises.

    “That has always been the story we have been hearing for the past two years; we are organising some money, we are going to release some funding, we should bring our names, we should meet at 10 o’clock. We have gone through all these processes and promises, and we are still where we are for the past two years. So I don’t think it is enough to just conclude that we are satisfied. Until we have our money in our hands, we don’t trust that this money will be paid to us”.

    “Mind you, day-in-day-out, the value of the money with Buffer Stock keeps reducing, and so we are more than interested in getting our money than any promise, we want action, not promises.”

    The Association on AU Day, May 25, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the National Food Buffer Stock Company to pay the eighteen months’ arrears owed members else they will picket at the Buffer Stock’s premises until they are paid.

  • Quality of Free SHS beneficiaries in universities unsatisfactory; no value for money – Dr Apaak

    Quality of Free SHS beneficiaries in universities unsatisfactory; no value for money – Dr Apaak

    The Member of Parliament for Builsa South wants the immediate review of government’s flagship Free Senior High School (SHS) programme owing to the detrimental effects on Ghana’s human resources.

    According to Dr Clement Abass Apaak, the policy has increased the enrolment of students in second cycle institutions, however, it was degraded the value students that churn out every year into the tertiary institutions.

    Speaking on JoyNews on Saturday, he stated some stakeholders in academia are unenthused about the performance of the crop of students they tutor.

    “The Free Senior High School has led to an increase in enrollment but with poor learning outcomes, I think that is very significant.

    “You can call a few of my colleagues who are at the universities and lecturers and ask them, about the quality of students, who are coming through these days. They will tell you that the quality is unsatisfactory.”

    He noted that these dissatisfied lecturers are proposing an entrance examination as a result.

    Dr Apaak is of the reason that the component of poor learning outcomes justifies the call for review by former President John Mahama and the likes of Prof Ayettey, Prof Addae-Mensah, Kofi Asare of Education Watch, and Dr Partey of the Institute of Educational Studies

    “Are we getting value for money and the answer is no,” he stressed.

    The Free SHS programme is amongst the sixteen projects the government is expected to review as part of its conditionalities to obtain the second tranche of money from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    On the back of this, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on May 24, 2023, revealed that the government already had plans to review the programme.

    The government said it spent some GH¢5.3 billion on Free SHS in 2021. This was disclosed by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the 2022 Mid-Year Budget Review presented before parliament Monday, 25 July 2022.

    The amount he noted was to enable some 1.2 million children access senior high education.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • What’s wrong with improving FSHS policy? – Apaak to Akufo-Addo

    What’s wrong with improving FSHS policy? – Apaak to Akufo-Addo

    Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has raised concern over President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to examine the Free Senior High School Education (FSHS) policy.

    This comes on the back of the Methodist Church of Ghana calling on the government to review one of its flagship policies, the FSHS.

    According to the Methodist Church, irrespective of how the policy has been welcomed by Ghanaians there is the need to revise it.

    Commenting on the call by the Methodist Church, Dr. Clement Apaak indicated that President Akufo-Addo must listen to the many calls for the policy to be relooked at.

    “Stakeholders in education, the clergy, unions, parents and well-meaning Ghanaians have all called for and/or supported the call for a review of the FSHS policy, except Akufo-Addo and his NPP government. What is wrong with reviewing a policy to make it better, I don’t get it!” the lawmaker stated in a tweet.

    Meanwhile, the Methodist Church of Ghana has also disclosed that the FSHS policy has been saddled with challenges the government must accept and embark on a review.  

  • It is Alan’s turn to create jobs for free SHS beneficiaries – Campaign team

    It is Alan’s turn to create jobs for free SHS beneficiaries – Campaign team

    The campaign team for Alan Kyerematen who is contesting for the flagbearer slot of the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) has stated that the former trade minister’s goal is to give unemployed youth who benefited from Akufo-Addo’s free Senior High School Program jobs.

    The ‘Alan for President 2024’ campaign team noted that former President John Agyekum Kufuor gave Ghanaians a free maternal health programme, President Nana Akufo-Addo continued the tradition with free senior high school and Mr Kyerematen would crown those policies with jobs.

    Speaking at a health walk in Accra on Saturday, 29 April 2023, dubbed ‘Aduro Wo So’, to wit, ‘it’s your turn’ that was used to kick-start Mr Kyerematen’s campaign in the Greater Accra Region, spokesperson Buaben Asamoa, said the babies who were born as a result of former President Kufuor’s free maternity healthcare programme are the beneficiaries of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s free senior high school programme (Free SHS).

    “The vast majority of the beneficiaries of the Free SHS were babies born in 2007 to 2008,” he stressed.

    ‘’So, it’s the turn of Alan Kyetematen to create jobs with his Ghana Transformation Agenda (GTA),” he declared.

    It is the expectation of Mr Asamoa that some one million jobs will be created pursuing through Mr Kyerematen’s GTA for the beneficiaries of the Free SHS.

    He said the GTA is key for the development of Ghana’s economy.

    Mr Kyerematen, addressing the crowd at Mantse Agbonaa, after walking through some principal streets in the commercial business district, said his quest to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is to create a financially sound political party, where party executives could be paid salaries at end of the month.

    According to him, this is the only way to create a political party that is sound to sustain the country’s democracy.

    He bemoaned the divisive tendencies in Ghana’s political terrain and pledged to offer a change

  • Toilet cubicles are not being used as dormitories – GHANASCO headmaster refutes claims

    Toilet cubicles are not being used as dormitories – GHANASCO headmaster refutes claims

    The headmaster of Ghana National Senior High School (GHANASCO) in Tamale, Douglas Yakubu, has denied claims that the school’s washrooms are being utilized as dormitories.

    According to him, there is no iota of truth in the report and must be disregarded.

    His comment comes on the back of a widely circulated video which showed students using toilet cubicles as dormitories, causing concern among parents and the public.

    But speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Yakubu said the video was indeed from GHANASCO but the report does not reflect reality.

    He explained that, the facility though abandoned toilet cubicles are being used as store rooms for chop boxes.

    “We have a lot of dormitory facilities in my school and recently, we took over a facility that can accommodate about 800 students so it is very ridiculous. I can’t imagine it.

    “Where you saw is a box room and used to be an old washroom right from 1960 to the 80s but we stopped using it many years and every old student can attest to that. It has never been converted to a dormitory but a store room where students keep their chop boxes when going on vacation and another contains cleaning materials,” he claimed.

    To him, the video is a deliberate attempt by some persons to run down the image of the school, adding it was recorded at the blind side of management.

    The headmaster said some students might have taken their mattresses there to relax after learning.

    “What students do is that occasionally they go and learn there because it is conducive. I even did that as a student,” he noted.

  • “Dog meals” for SHS students comment – Mahama challenges media to fact check

    Former President and NDC flag bearer hopeful John Dramani Mahama is charging the media to fact check his comment about poor feeding of Senior High School students.

    The former President faced heavy backlash from the governing New Patriotic Party when he said even dogs will reject food being served students under the Free SHS program.

    Speaking to delegates in New Juaben North and South as part of his three- day tour of Eastern region which ends on Thursday he explained that “recently I spoke about poor quality of meals for students in Senior high schools. But the NPP insulted me. I want Journalists to fact check. This is a challenge to you (Journalists).

    Go to the SHS students to ask them about the quality of food being served. And as I said with apology that the food being served the children in school not even a dog will eat that food in the house. Journalists go to the schools to interview the children and see for yourself if these are the kind of food Senior High School students deserve to eat”.

    He said the poor implementation of Free Senior High School has impaired quality education at the secondary level however government is reluctant to listen to stakeholders for review of the policy.

    According to Mr. Mahama, the constitution envisaged these challenges reason it prescribed a progressively free education which the NDC started.

    However for populist agenda to win election, Akufo Addo decided to implement the policy wholesale hence the serious challenges affecting the policy.

    “When you came everything Free SHS. Now the children can’t go to school to learn. They go to school three weeks and come home. Their meals are bad. I have seen videos where food were being shared to students, the quality can’t be compared to what we feed them at home”.

    “Parents are spending more on children now than when they were paying fees. That is why we have called for consultation with stakeholders to review .But they went round to say I sad I will cancel it .That is the propaganda they did in 2016. But we started Free SHS with day students .At our time, day students were not paying schools fees in secondary school. We announced we were going to start with boarding students so in the first year September we selected 140,000 boarding students for Free SHS so how can I cancel it “. Mr.Mahama said.

  • Education Minister details how much govt has spent on Free SHS

    Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has disclosed that government from 2017 to 2021 spent GHS 5,119,794,501.22 on its flagship Free Senior High School Program.

    He said the ministry’s approved budget for the full implementation of the Free SHS program amounted to GHS 7,623,783,456.00.

    However, during the period under review, the ministry of finance released a total of GHS 5,182,205,131.91.

    “Mr. Speaker, the Government of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo introduced the Free Senior High School program to improve access and quality of secondary education in Ghana. The program since its inception, has contributed to improving learning outcomes in our Senior High Schools.

    “For the period under review (ie. 2017- 2021), the Ministry’s approved budget allocation for the implementation of the Free SHS program amounted to Seven Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty- three Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty- three Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-six Ghana Cedis (GHS7,623,783,456.00).

    “During the period under review, the Ministry of Finance released a total of Five Billion, One Hundred and Eighty-two Million, Two Hundred and Five Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty- one Ghana Cedis, Ninety-one pesewas (GHS5,182,205,131.91) to the Ministry of Education for the execution of the Free SHS program.

    “The total expenditure for the period amounted to Five Billion, One Hundred and Nineteen Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-four Thousand, Five Hundred and One Ghana Cedis, Twenty-two pesewas GHS5,119,794,501.22),” he said.

    This answer was in response to a question by the Akatsi North MP, who asked the minister to provide information on how much the Government has spent on the Free SHS Program between 2017 and 2021 in view of the conflicting figures on how much government has committed so far.

  • Former Kwadaso MP says NPP won 2016, 2020 elections because of Alan’s 1D1F

    Former Kwadaso MP says NPP won 2016, 2020 elections because of Alan’s 1D1F

    Former Member of Parliament for Kwadaso Constituency, Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah, has asserted that the ‘One District, One Factory’ (1D1F) concept put forth by the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, was a major factor in the ruling New Patriotic Party’s victories in the 2016 and 2020 national elections.

    Speaking in an interview on Wontumi TV on February 27, 2023, he claimed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s plan for the free SHS introduction had no influence on the Ghanaian electorate’s decision to vote for the NPP in the 2008 and 2012 elections, but Alan’s One District, One Factory ultimately helped the elephant party win in 2016 and 2020.

    “In 2008, we went for elections with a free SHS message, but we lost. In 2012, we also went with the same free SHS message and still lost.

    “But in 2016, when Alan Kyerematen brought the 1 District, 1 Factory message, what happened? We won the elections. So, if they’ve forgotten, that is what Alan did,” he said.

    He added that Alan Kyerematen has contributed immensely to the development of the country as trade minister, adding that he is ready to offer his support to the former minister to ‘break the eight’ for the party.

    The former minister officially declared his intention to run for president in 2024 on January 10, 2023.

    Addressing the nation on January 10, 2023, days after resigning from the government, Alan Kyerematen thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and announced that he would run for the position of flagbearer when the NPP officially opens nominations.

    According to Alan Kyerematen, to ensure economic stability for the country, a new plan ought to be put in place, one he intends to introduce.

    Describing this plan as the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) of Ghana, he said it will span from 2025 to 2030 when given the chance as president.

    He said, “Fellow countrymen and women, let me now provide a brief synopsis of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP). The GTP will be anchored on the following key pillars:

    “A Strong Macroeconomic Environment: The success of the GTP will depend primarily on strong macroeconomic fundamentals, which will include, among other things, a stable currency, low inflation, sustainable debt levels, revenue optimization and tight expenditure control to guarantee fiscal balance, low competitive interest rates, strong external reserves backed by high levels of liquidity to support the financial sector.”

  • Prof Gatsi asks govt not to tamper with SHS contact hours

    Prof Gatsi asks govt not to tamper with SHS contact hours

    Dean of the University of Cape Coast, Prof John Gatsi, has appealed to government not to tamper with the contact hours of Senior High School students.

    The Keta Secondary Technical School (KETASCO) celebrated its 70th anniversary on Saturday, with Torgbui Sri III as the Royal Guest of Honor and Torgbui Tamakloe VI as chairman.

    The ceremony was attended by Dzolalians from home and abroad.

    Dean of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) Business School, Prof. John Gatsi was the Keynote Speaker.

    Prof Gatsi is a Dzolalian- enrolled into KETASCO in 1988 and completed his ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels in 1993 and 1995 respectively.

    He spoke on the topic “Quality Second-Cycle Education in Ghana: The Role of Stakeholders.”

    The Dean of UCC Business School stated that recent developments in second-cycle education, whereby some students spent only 37 days in school and are asked to vacate for 56 days in order for first-year students to come in, are having negative impact on contact hours and compromising quality of education.

    According to him, educational authorities should not trivialise the critical issue of contact hours.

    He explained that the “truncated contact hours are the reason why parents have to pay for so many arranged classes for their children to be able to complete the syllabi.” This, he added, creates inequity for many students.

    He believes that, while focusing on second-cycle education has political and electoral implications, effective stakeholder engagement should result in better and longer-lasting quality outcomes.

    He called for stakeholder engagement and debate about allowing students in second-cycle institutions to use phones and tablets.

    He stated that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s promise to give each Senior High Student a tablet should spark debate about whether the policy of not allowing phones and tablets in schools should be changed.

    He went on to say that junior high school students, who are mostly day students, are given assignments that primarily require the use of phones and tablets to complete homework. So there must undoubtedly be a discussion in order to ensure that our students learn creatively.

    Prof. Gatsi explained that accountability is needed in the operationss of Parent Teacher Association (PTAs).

    He said there are reported cases of misuse of PTA dues and called for proper structures to be put in place to assure contributors. Prof Gatsi suggested that those who misapplied PTA dues should be punished because it negatively affects construction of infrastructure projects in the schools.

    He inspired teachers to be role models and motivational forces for students. Prof. Gatsi further asked educationists to look at quality holistically saying that “if a school has three programmes and one is churning out good grades and others are not, then quality in his view is not holistic.”

    Prof. Gatsi encouraged past students to use the 70th anniversary to reflect on the years and rededicate themselves to defining what KETASCO should be in terms of infrastructure, capacity to enroll more students, and making the school appealing to all.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • School Placement: Switching from regular school to technical school easier – MoE

    School Placement: Switching from regular school to technical school easier – MoE

    The Education Ministry is encouraging candidates who wish to change from what it refers to as ‘grammar’ to technical school to do so.

    The move, according to the Ministry, is intended to broaden the technical and vocational space for national development.

    Speaking to Joy Prime’s Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning, on Tuesday, the Deputy Public Relations Officer at the Ministry indicated that this will also help reduce the pressure on the ‘grammar’ schools.

    Mr. Yaw Opoku-Mensah further added that TVET education is key to dealing with the bulging unemployment situation in Ghana.

    “We need to understand it from the sociological perspective of how the education system has always been. Way back to the introduction of formal education. So you realise that the over 700 senior high schools are all within the grammar space. How many technical schools do we have, and how many people are motivated to find themselves within the technical education space? So we’ve had enough of grammar school,” he explained.

    The Deputy PRO also stated that the move will not only broaden the technical and vocational space for national development, but will gradually help alleviate unemployment in the country.

    “I believe you do have complaints about job seekers, and the question is what technical skills you are bringing on board. So therefore, we need to train our manpower within the technical space for the transformation and growth of the economy that we all seek. So that is why we are expanding that space. That is why we are motivating and encouraging people to find themselves within the technical space,” the Deputy PRO added.

    Mr. Mensah noted that the major reason school placement controversies arise is because the students do not arrange their schools in the right order.

    He also said that parents’ absence during the school-choice process, which tends to mount pressure on the teachers, is also the cause of the school placement debacle.

    “Someone with a good grade will probably be pushed to the third, fourth, or fifth choice, depending on the arrangement of schools that you have done… so you are pushed out of the spot with your good grade and raw score. That is why school organisation is critical, and it breaks my heart when our staff from headquarters and the regional base go into the district, in the cluster in the community, to educate parents, and when you call, the schools tell you that even if you call parents for a meeting, only a small percentage are actual parents, and the majority just send people to stand in for them.”

    The Deputy Public Relations Officer, the Education Ministry, Dr. Yaw Opoku, further urged that parents take an active part in the school selection process and collaborate with teachers to avoid future challenges.

    He also encouraged students considering entering the SHS system to consider technical schools, as they will provide them with more practical knowledge and skills.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Yilo Krobo SHS students reportedly sleeping in the open due to congestion

    Yilo Krobo SHS students reportedly sleeping in the open due to congestion

    Scores of students at Yilo Krobo Senior High Secondary School in the Eastern Region are compelled to sleep in the open and in makeshift structures because of the teething problem of lack of infrastructure.

    A video that has gone viral captured some students admitted into the school as part of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS), sleeping in the open under the vagaries of the weather.

    The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school, Iddrissu Adamptey, speaking in an interview on the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Odeyeeba Kofi Essuman on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, February 16, 2023, said the problem of congestion has been a headache to the managers of the school in recent times.

    He stressed that the of lack of dormitories coupled with the lack of furniture needs immediate attention.

    He said because of this, parents are compelled to provide plastic chairs for their wards to serve as furniture for studying.

    He explained that the situation is worrying, adding that the number of students posted to the school continues to rise without accompanying infrastructure.

    Assigning reasons for the rising population of the school, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, Mr. Eric Tetteh, said it was the school’s performance in the 2020 and 2021 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    According to him, over the past couple of years, the school has become attractive to parents because of its academic performance.

    He further said the aforementioned, in addition to the school’s performance in the last National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) competition, has exacerbated the problem of the school as parents and old students continue to push for the admission of their wards.

    He stressed that this feat was achieved by the provision of a state-of-the-art science laboratory by the Ministry of Education.

    The school, he explained, now has a population of about 2,847 students pursuing various academic subjects.

    He added he had visited the school on three occasions to assess the situation and very soon the ministry would come to the aid of the school.

    The MCE refused to add timelines to the promise but assured that the attention of the sector minister has been drawn to the problem of the school and remedial steps will be taken promptly.

    “I have promised not to sleep over the matter because I am an old boy of the school,” he concluded.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Free SHS a ‘contributing’ factor to uprisings in schools – Former MP

    Free SHS a ‘contributing’ factor to uprisings in schools – Former MP

    A former Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency in the Oti Region, Daniel Kosi Ashiamah, says the government’s Free SHS policy is a contributory factor in the current uprisings in the SHS.

    The former lawmaker said this after 40 students at the Krobea Asante Technical and Vocational School in Effiduase Asokore, Sekeyere East District, Ashanti Region, were arrested for violence at the school.

    Following a series of protests, the students vandalized schools and private properties and later cut power to the school, resulting in further disorder.

    The school’s principal was also attacked by students who broke into his apartment and beat him up.

    According to reports, the students’ anger stemmed from their predecessors’ poor performance on their final examinations.

    Ebenezer Opoku, who is the Assembly Member for the area and also the Coordinator for Free SHS in the District, confirmed the incident, adding that the students wrecked a total of six cars, including four that belonged to the school and two that were owned privately by teachers.

    Some eight students of the Chiana Senior High School in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region were also issued sack letters by the Ghana Education service for insulting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The President had to step in for the decision of the GES to be changed.

    Responding to the two scenarios on Atinka TV’s morning show “Ghana Nie” with host Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa, former NDC MP for Buem, Daniel Kosi Ashiamah, said the students’ behavior can be linked to the free SHS to some extent.

    Government has a lot of consultations to make as far as this free SHS is concerned.

    “If you look at all these scenarios, you need to ask yourself what percentage of the impact of the free SHS there will be.” This is why some of us are calling for the free SHS to be reviewed. GES and the government should find out the administrative aspect of this free SHS. “They need to find out how the teachers are monitoring and working with the students with these free SHS students, which is resulting in these disturbances,” the former lawmaker said.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • SHS food shortage: There’s a culture of silence among teachers – Educational Leadership Professor

    SHS food shortage: There’s a culture of silence among teachers – Educational Leadership Professor

    Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Cape Coast, George Oduro has bemoaned the current victimisation some head teachers face when they speak against government.

    According to him, senior high schools are facing numerous challenges, particularly shortage of food. However, school authorities are refusing to speak about the situation publicly.

    This, in his view, is due to the “the culture of silence” the government has gradually instituted in the educational system.

    “I have tried talking to many head teachers who confide in me and when I ask them why they don’t come out and speak about their problems, they will say, ‘Prof, you want me to talk? No please, I want to retire peacefully’.

    “So there is a culture of silence. People are zipping their mouths because of what we call instigation,” he said.

    Professor Oduro made this observation when he contributed to a discussion on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday. The topic was; ‘food shortage in SHSs.’

    It has been reported that since the term started two weeks ago, it was just this weekend that food was supplied to schools.

    This is not the first time food shortage in senior high schools has been in the limelight. Last year, many schools were on the verge of shutting down due to challenges with food supplies.

    Students have not been in school for a month and the crisis has reared its head again. Many guardians are worried about the situation.

    Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the Education Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng, has assured parents that over the weekend, government distributed food supplies to SHSs across the country.

    He also urged school authorities to speak up about their challenges for them to be addressed.

    Dispelling claims that there is a ‘culture of silence, Mr Kwarteng said “We’re not going to victimise any headmaster who comes out to speak about food shortage.”

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • We take responsibility for food shortage in SHSs – Education Ministry PRO

    We take responsibility for food shortage in SHSs – Education Ministry PRO

    The spokesperson of the Ministry of Education says his outfit takes full responsibility for the widespread reports of malnourishment of students and food shortage in some senior high schools in the country.

    Admitting the challenges in an interview on the Super Morning Show on Monday, Kwasi Kwarteng said the Ministry is aware of the feeding crisis which has plagued some high schools.

    According to him, the challenge is real; adding that he is aware of how some heads of second-cycled institutions struggle to provide decent meals to boarding students.

    He, however, assured that the Ministry is working around the clock to address the challenge which has become a huge disincentive to effective teaching and learning.

    “I appreciate the concerns that have been raised. I am not here to reject or deny them.

    “My first comment is that no matter the situation, that is why we are there as leadership. And the beauty of leadership is to take responsibility no mater how the issues are and then make some inputs with regards to whatever concerns have been raised”, Kwasi Kwarteng said.

    He continued, “The Dr Adwutwum-led administration ultimately takes responsibility for everything.

    “The assurance we’re going to give parents is that, even though officially we’ve not had these complaints when it comes to the food shortages, where there are indeed, some level of challenges with regards to supplies, be it transportation issues, be it logistical issues, quickly when we get the name of the school, we’ll go in intervene and resolve it”.

    Having assured guardians about government’s willingness to resolve the crisis, he however lamented the creation of false stories on food shortages in senior high schools.

    He said while the challenges exist, they must not be falsely presented to court disaffection for the government.

    Food shortage in senior high schools has been on the front burner following widespread reports about how some students find it difficult to come by three square meals a day.

    As a result, some of these underfed students are compelled to call their guardians to bring them food from home, due to the scanty and poor quality food they receive in school.

    This challenge has become predominant in recent times, forcing some parents to plead with government to allow them start feeding their wards in school.

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has dispelled rumours about the victimisation of heads of senior high schools who bring these issues to the fore.

    Touching on the issue, Mr. Kwarteng said government is receptive to feedback on the feeding crisis and would not attack anybody who genuinely highlights the setbacks.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Government’s arrogant posture to SHS food shortage worrying – Parents

    Government’s arrogant posture to SHS food shortage worrying – Parents

    Some parents and guardians have criticised government for its supposed arrogance and indifference toward the lamentation of food shortages in senior high schools.

    Calling into Joy FM’s Super Morning Show during an interview with the Education Ministry’s Spokesperson, listeners were furious about the ‘praise singing’.

    The Spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, had earlier said there were abundant food supplies at schools including PRESEC-Legon, St Thomas Aquinas SHS and Konongo SHS.

    However, parents who called into the Morning Show were of a different view.

    While some lamented about the impact of the food shortage on their wards others fumed about the arrogance Mr Kwarteng portrayed on the show.

    “What is he saying? He should just humble himself and listen to the concerns. He cannot just come and sit on radio and sing his praises. We all know that our kids are suffering in school, they [our wards] tell us that they are not being fed well.

    “Has the PRO been roaming in all the SHS schools in Ghana? Headmasters are being victimized and when you are being informed, the arrogance you are exhibiting. You don’t even want people to talk,” one Fred fumed.

    Another caller known as Adu-Gyamfi added, “The PRO threw a challenge to you in the studio that follow him with your cameras to any SHS and I can bet my last pesewa including my haircut that there is no food supply in Schools.”

    Meanwhile, Mr Kwarteng acknowledged the challenges the Education Minister has taken full responsibility for the current food crisis.

    He further noted that Ministry is working earnestly to resolve the challenges across the country.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Suspend Free SHS until economy picks up – Seth Tekper tells Akufo-Addo 

    A former Minister of Finance has asked the government to suspend the Free SHS policy until the economy rebounds.

    Mr Seth Tekper said the current economic crisis does not support the implementation of policies such as the Free SHS and that all capital intensive projects should be reviewed urgently.

    “I am going to use the Free SHS, unfettered free SHS, I am free to say it because in 2017 I tweeted and said unfettered free SHS was attractive but cannot be achieved. Ghana cannot do unfettered free SHS,” he said.

    He added that the IMF deal will come with constraints to expenditure. So should the flagship policy be suspended, the money from it can be used for roads construction and hospitals.

    “If we have a project which we have signed to complete in three years, I think we can suspend it for one year until we improve the situation…for instance some roads or some hospitals.”

    The government and the Bretton Woods Institution in a joint press statement on Monday, December 12, said a Staff-Level Agreement on economic policies has been reached.

    This is to be supported by a new three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about $3 billion.

    According to a statement from the fund, the government’s strong reform programme aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while protecting the vulnerable, preserving financial stability and laying the foundation for strong and inclusive recovery, was key in this decision.

    However, the staff-level agreement is subject to IMF Management and Executive Board approval and receipt of the necessary financing assurances by Ghana’s partners and creditors.

    Meanwhile, the government announced it is suspending debt service payments on certain categories of external debts, including Eurobonds, commercial loans and most bilateral debt.

    According to the government, this is aimed at bringing the country’s unsustainable debt level under control – a statement from the Ministry of Finance said.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Over GH9bn to be spent on govt’s 16 flagship programmes

    Government has allocated over GH9 billion to fund 16 of its flagship initiatives in 2023.

    This information is contained in the 2023 budget statement and economic policy presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to Parliament.

    Close to GH3 billion has been allocated to the Free Senior High School Programme, while a little over GH2.6 billion has been allocated to roads infrastructure.

    Also, an amount of GH969 million has been alloted to the School Feeding Programme.

    Over GH660 million has been allocated to the Agric Ministry’s Planting for Food and Jobs, a little over GH164 million will be used for Railways Development, while more than GH520 million will be pumped into the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme.

    Close to GH4 million has been allocated to Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty.

    In the education sector, the Nursing Trainee Allowances and Teacher Trainee Allowances will cost the government GH265 million and over GH241 million respectively.

    An amount of GH200 million will be spent on government’s One District One Factory Programme and GH38 million will be spent on Regional Reorganisation and Development.

    The National Identification Authority will be provided with GH37 million, Fish Landing Sites, GH26 million,  Zongo Development Fund, GH24 million and Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre, GH14 million.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Akufo-Addo defends increase in budget allocation to Free SHS

    President Akufo-Addo has defended the government’s choice to raise funding for its free senior high school policy.

    The allocation comes amidst the nation’s economic difficulties

    Based on the results of those who received free SHS in the past two West Africa Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations, he claims that the policy has been more effective than what was in place before (WASSCE).

    “The 2022 WASSCE results of the third batch of Free SHS graduates show 60.39 percent of students recording A1-C6 in English as opposed to 51.6 percent in 2016. 62.5 percent recording A1 to C6 in Integrated Science in 2022 as opposed to 48.35 percent in 2016 with this year’s results being a slight regression from the 2021 pass rate of 65.7 percent”, he said.

    President justifies increase in budget allocation to Free SHS despite economic challenges

    President Akufo-Addo who was speaking at the 70th Anniversary of Opoku Ware School in Kumasi further enumerated that, “61.39 percent recorded A1 to C6 in Mathematics as compared to 33.12 percent in 2016 and 71.5 percent recorded A1 to C6 in Social Studies as compared to 54.5 percent in 2016. Lest we forget the 2021 batch of students who also obtained very commendable results were the pioneers of the double track system which elicit a lot of vilification and unfounded criticism on its introduction”.

    The President claims that the pass rate has steadily increased since the pre-free SHS era, with the 2022 results being the best in eight years.

    President justifies increase in budget allocation to Free SHS despite economic challenges

    For this reason, the President believes the Free SHS has been very successful with 1.3 million children benefitting from the policy which comes with its own challenges.

    “There have been challenges associated with this policy which government has addressed substantially; many of them and there will be more in the course of time, such is the nature of social evolutions so that at every stage the challenges will be met”, he added.

    Budgetary allocation for the policy implementation has increased from 2.3 billion cedis to 2.96 billion cedis, in spite of current economic challenges.

    “From a budget of 2.3 billion cedis in 2022, a 28.6 percent increase has been applied to this year’s budget for free SHS”, he said.

    President justifies increase in budget allocation to Free SHS despite economic challenges

    The anniversary was on the theme; “Seven Decades of Leadership through Self Discipline”. In attendance was Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu the Second, among other dignitaries.

    Management of the school used the opportunity to call on the government to resume the renovation of projects that have stalled for months.

    President justifies increase in budget allocation to Free SHS despite economic challenges

    Headmaster, Rev. Father Stephen Owusu Sekyere, who spoke at the ceremony said, “As a listening father, you heed to our request and came to our aid to renovate all the facilities on campus in June 2020. I regret to inform you today that the project was supposed to be completed within six months but have stalled after two years”.

    Meanwhile, old students of the school are devoting resources to an investment account to support future renovation projects.

  • Free SHS will unleash potentials of youth – Education Minister

    Education Minster, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has noted that the Free Senior High, Technical and Vocational Education will help to unleash the potentials of the youth for development.

    According to him, said the two programmes had essentially provided a huge opportunity for every Ghanaian youth to access quality education.

    Dr Adutwum said this in Sunyani when he interacted with the members of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs during a working visit to the region.

    “The Government is investing hugely in TVET education not only to fetch direct jobs for graduates, but also push rapid industrialisation,” he said.

    Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centres had been put up in many schools in the region to ensure effective implementation.

    He cited the SHSs at Jinijini in the Berekum West District and Koase in the Wenchi Municipality as well as the St. James Seminary/SHS at Abesim, near Sunyani as the locations of some of the centres.

    “For a country to develop in this modern age, education, particularly STEM, should remain at the forefront and that is exactly what the Government is committed to doing”, the Minister said.

    He said the nation’s gross tertiary education enrolment was low, hovering around 25 per cent, and called on all stakeholders to contribute to ensure that more students pursued higher education for the country to have a quality human resource base for development.

    Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Agyeman Badu II, the Paramount Chief of Dormaa Traditional Area, and the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, implored the Government to expand infrastructure at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, the Sunyani Technical University, and second cycle institution to facilitate teaching and learning.

    He expressed concern over the abandonment of construction works on the Bono Regional Library project and appealed to the Minister to intervene for work to resume.

    Source: GNA

  • We didn’t do Free SHS because we didn’t want children fighting over food – Opoku-Agyemang

    Prof Jane Naana Opoku- Agyemang, the former Minister for Education during former President John Dramani Mahama’s presidency has assigned a reason for the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s decision not to roll out a Free Senior High School programme.

    According to her, the NDC in government chose the progressively Free SHS as against the en-masse Free SHS implemented by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) today.

    “We refused to do the NPP’s kind of Free SHS to prevent the students from fighting over food,” she said.

    “There is no food to feed the children because of the NPP’s free-for -all programme,” she explained.

    My team at the Ministry knew that the NPP’s concept of Free SHS is problematic because the research was available for them to read.

    She said research from the West African Examination Council (WEAC) among others abound for them and the handing over notes were all available for them.

    “Now the National Buffer Stock Company is in shambles and cannot supply food to the schools and they are blaming the NDC for it after six years of leaving power?” she queried.

    Prof Jane stressed that the NPP arrow cannot be pointed at the NDC.

    The former Education Minister who became the running mate to former President John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 general elections said these in an interview on the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Emmanuel Quarshie (The Hitman) on Accra 100.5 FM on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.

    “In 2020, when we said the implementation of the Free SHS was problematic and that we will review it, the naysayers said we will cancel it,” she said.

    “They have come to terms with the teething problems of the implementation of the Free SHS so they should review it and make it better,” she told the governing NPP.

    She called on the NPP to review Free SHS and find out what is wrong with the policy.

  • Gov’t spent over GH¢9b on Free SHS, 1D1F, free water, etc — Auditor-General’s report

    The government has spent GH¢9,197,771,663.74 billion on its flagship programmes, the 2021 Auditor General’s report has revealed.

    According to the report, GH¢1,409,997,719.41 was allocated to Free Senior High School Programme-SHS/TVET while GH¢797,190,169.55 was allocated for Fertilizer Subsidy/Planting for food and jobs project.

    It said the government spent an amount of GH¢242,283,846.97 on COVID-19 free water while COVID-19 activity and Vaccine during the outbreak covered GH¢1,557,846,913.38.

    GH¢45,372,195,70 was spent on the government’s digital address system alone in 2021, whiles GH¢142,762,500 was spent on the controversial National Cathedral project as of December 2021.

    Below is the money spent on the flagship programmes of the government.

    Below is the money spent on the flagship programmes of the government.

     

    Below is the money spent on the flagship programmes of the government.

    Auditor General's report

    Auditor General’s reports
    Source: Pulse

  • COVID spending cost GH¢1.55bn, more than Free-SHS/TVET in 2021 – A-G’s report

    The 2021 Auditor- General’s report’s on government priority programs and initiatives has COVID-19-related spending as its biggest expenditure item.

    The research stated that the second-placed Free SHS program, SHS/TVET, cost the tax payer around 100,000,000 more than COVID-19 Activity & Vaccine, which cost the taxpayer GH1,557,846,913.38.

    GH $9,197 billion was spent overall on projects under priority programs and interventions during the fiscal year 2021.

    There were 26 line items in total that went into the reported amount, among others, a total of GH¢142,762,500 on the Ghana National Cathedral project and other expenses on Zongo Development Fund, Teachers and Nurses allowances.

    Free fertilizers, Ghana Care Programme, COVID-19 Free Water, LEAP payments, Payment of Arabic teachers among others.

    The report on government spending contained in the 2021 Auditor-General’s report submitted to the Speaker of Parliament, has been generating a lot of reactions.

    According to the Service, the report was prepared under Section 11 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584) for presentation to Parliament in accordance with Section 20 of the Act.

  • GES is not reviewing Free SHS policy Director-General

    The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa has explained that government is not reviewing the Free Senior High School Policy.

    According to him, any decision to review the policy will emanate from the President.

    In a statement dated July 22, 2022, he stated that, “The GES is a government agency and does not formulate or initiate review of policies.”

    On Thursday, July 21, Prof. Opoku-Amankwa in an answer to a question posed by Raymond Acquah on JoyNews Upfront said the GES is reviewing the policy to determine how much parents can pay

    However, in the statement issued today, the Director-General said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the GES is not undertaking any review of the FSHS. Any such review of the FSHS Policy is the sole prerogative of the President and the government. As an Agency, the GES implements government policies and programmes in pre-tertiary education.”

    Prof. Opoku-Amankwa stressed that “His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his recent speech at UHAS, assured all students, potential students, parents and the entire country that the Free SHS will not be affected by the IMF programme.”

    He therefore expressed the resolve of the GES to implement the vision of President Akufo-Addo. “It is the commitment of GES under my leadership to ensure that the vision of President Akufo-Addo of providing accessible, equitable and quality Free SHS education is fully implemented to the benefit of the good people of Ghana,” he stated.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • SHS students will feed themselves after July 15 CHASS

    The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) on Saturday, July 9,2022, has said that students will be compelled to feed themselves if the government refuses to send money to schools by Friday, July 15, 2022.

    According to CHASS, the main food suppliers, Buffer Stock Company, are refusing to supply food to schools due to outstanding money owed them by the government.

    “This has led to serious food shortages in all schools in the region. In fact assessment of the situation indicated that most Senior High Schools (SHS) cannot go beyond one week if nothing urgent is done about it.”

    According to the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, it will be most appropriate and healthier to ask students to go home to prevent students from fainting or collapsing while undertaking certain activities on an empty stomach.

    CHASS claims schools can only feed students with the only available food in stock while students are also coming to the dining hall with their provisions.

    The Upper West Regional CHASS further stated that, “If sufficient money and food are not received in the schools by Friday, July 15, 2022, we will be compelled to tell parents to either feed their wards or come for them since it will be impossible to continue to feed them.”

    According to the Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, the outgoing students who have a few days to write their final examination will either feed themselves or come from home to write the examination due to the food shortage in schools.

    “All sporting activities and cultural activities at the school, District, Regional and National levels are hereby suspended with immediate effect until further notice since
    there is no money to carry out these activities.

    We have therefore held on with all activities that may require payment of money, since we may not be able to pay our stakeholders.

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Matron of Ofoase Senior High caught stealing Free SHS foodstuff

    The police have taken into custody a matron who worked at Ofoase Senior High Technical School (OSHTS), which is located in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

    According to the report, the matron was caught stealing food that was intended for OSHTS and using it for her own personal use instead.

    In an interview with Kingdom FM, the Principal Witness and former Assembly Member for Ofoase Electoral Area, Mr. Tweneboah Koduah, also known by his initials TK, stated that the suspect conspired with a taxi driver, brought the taxi cab onto the school grounds, and loaded the goods with the assistance of some shadow staff members working at the school.

    Mr. TK continued by saying that he had been tipped off by a gang of young people and that he had subsequently located and detained the suspect.

    “There was a tip-off that the lady had hired a cab to carry the supplies that were just granted by the government for the school. The foods were destined for the school.

    Watch Full Video Below:

    Source: ghbase.com

  • SHS Placement: There are enough vacancies for qualified candidates Education Ministry

    The Ministry of Education has urged the public to remain calm as candidates continue to be placed in senior high schools via the Computerised Schools Selection Placement System (CSSPS).

    There have been concerns regarding the placements with some accusing the System of bias.

    Resolution centres have thus been mounted across the 16 regions of Ghana to resolve issues parents and, by extension, Ghanaians may have with the exercise.

    In a statement released on Friday, April 1, the Ministry said “all the resolution centers across the 16 regions of Ghana will be opened and continue to operate beyond the 4th of April, 2022”.

    Candidates who have had schools of their choice are scheduled to report on Monday, April 4 to begin their academic life in senior high school.

    In commending all stakeholders including parents and guardians for the cooperation received since the release of the placements on Saturday, March 26, the Ministry assured all and sundry that “there are enough vacancies for qualified candidates”.

    In all, 367,811 candidates out of the 555,353 qualified for the placement automatically into schools of their choice.

    The other 187,542 qualified candidates were asked to do a self-placement to available schools since they could not be matched with any of their choices.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Only 110 SHSs have produced medical students for UG and KNUST in 8 years – Addae Mensah

    Out of the over 720 senior high schools in the country, only 110 of them have had their students make it to the two traditional medical schools at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana.

    Prof Addae Mensah, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana disclosed this in an interview with JoyNews.

    While recounting the gains of the schools of origin on 60 years of medical education, the academician said the contributions made by these institutions have been enormous taking into account the quantum and quality of personnel churned out.

    Prof. Addae Mensah was, however, worried that little has been achieved in the area of studying medicine as a vehicle for social mobility.

    The academician explained “at the last count, we are supposed to have 720 senior high schools in the country. “

    “For the period of 2012 to 2020, we have admitted 1,272 to the University of Ghana Medical School. We have admitted similar numbers to the KNUST School of Medical Sciences.

    “Of those number of students admitted, they come from just about 110 schools, which means there are 610 schools in this country who have never sent a student to our two medical schools for the past eight years.”

    The Professor further revealed that out of the 110 schools that supplied the students for these two flagship medical schools, 5 of them have been dominant.

    “Let us take the University of Ghana Medical School. From 2013 to 2020, the 1,272 students, the first 5 schools that are; Wesley Girls School, Presec (Legon), Achimota, Mfantsipim, Holy Child and Prempeh bracket in the fifth position. These five schools alone have produced 50% of the medical students and 18 schools have produced more than 75% of the students in our medical school,” he added.

    This means the 25% left is shared among the remaining schools giving them a slim probability of getting any of their students in the medical school.

    As to what has accounted for this phenomenon, the renowned professor attributed it to the absence of school facilities that create a congenial atmosphere for learning science and mathematics.

    He underscored the need for the provision of science laboratories for the less endowed schools. Professor Addae Mensah reiterated the need to improve facilities in the schools.

    Prof Addae Mensah is of the view that rather than set up STEM schools as the government intends to do, it should concentrate effort in replicating what makes the few schools do better in the low-performing schools.

    The academician also expressed worry about the general quality of education. He said the Free SHS is only producing quantity and not quality and ought to be reviewed. 

    The Professor believes that sacrificing quality for quantity is not the way to go.

    He wants government to engage all stakeholders to relook and rethink the policy in order to make it more sustainable.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Dont change core mandate of Free SHS universal reach CRI

    The Child Rights International (CRI) has called on the government to ensure that all intended reviews made with regards to the Free Senior High School (SHS) did not change any of its core mandates, philosophy and the idea of universal reach irrespective of geographical location or status.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Executive Director of CRI, Mr Bright Appiah, in Accra yesterday.

    He said the programme has so far benefited 1.6 million students irrespective of their geographical location, status, sex or race.

    “The initiative is a laudable one which has had far-reaching socio-economic benefits and impact, especially within rural areas and communities in the country where financial constraints, accessibility and other factors prevented students from accessing secondary education,” he said.

    Mr Appiah said recent statements by government officials had led CRI to believe that there were plans underway to review some social intervention policy programmes, including the Free SHS programme.

    “As a child-centred organisation, our first priority is to ensure that government, policymakers and stakeholders are held accountable to the best interest of children whenever decisions are being taken on matters that have a direct or indirect impact on them. In this instance, both cases are applicable,” he said.

    He said the education sector had experienced many policy changes over the past 10 years, rendering it unstable, therefore, Ghanaians were not new to constant upheavals and changes within the educational sector in the country.

    However, Mr Appiah said this had resulted in several inconsistencies in the educational sector, “In policy formulation one of the key principles is that when citizens are settled in the application of a policy, change to the policy disturbs its outcomes on the environment, teachers, students and parents”.

    “There are numerous examples such as the 34 cars and then a change to the 4-3, cars senior high school period policy change all happening within a five-year space,” he said.

    He said in recent years, students and parents have had to adjust to the double-track system, the introduction of the semester cycle and then its reversal in schools.

    Mr Appiah said the development of a new curriculum that has not been fully integrated into the system with complaints of the lack of teaching material to support this new curriculum. The changes have been many and the impact profound.

    He was hopeful that the reviews of the programme would seek to address and rectify administrative issues, delaying the provision of services within the programme rather than altering the idea, philosophy and core mandate.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • We warned Free SHS will create problems for Ghana IMANI

    Director of Strategy at IMANI Africa, Selorm Branttie, has stated that the problems his outfit foresaw in the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy are beginning to emanate.

    According to him, IMANI Africa warned that the government was going to have challenges funding the Free SHS policy, myjoyonline.com reports.

    Speaking in an interview on Joy FM, the director of strategy said, the current issues with the policy is “a kind of IMANI told you so” moment.

    “… 10 years ago when this policy was mooted during the campaign of the NPP in the 2012 election, IMANI sounded a very big warning about the fact that this was a kind of a trojan horse that will bring complications in the future.

    “… unfortunately, the reality has caught up with us and we now have to grapple with very hard decisions because we have nurtured this kind of freebie mentality to be pervasive in the psyche of the modern Ghanaian parent,” Branttie is quoted.

    Selorm Branttie made these remarks reacting to comments made by a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, and former Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Prof Stephen Adei, for the government to reconsider the SHS policy.

    Kennedy Osei Nyarko said that the free SHS policy should be suspended together with other social intervention policies such as school feeding, Planting for Food and Jobs, and the Nation Builders Corps programmes as well as payment of the teacher and nursing trainee allowances, in other for the government to get the funds to implement other policies.

    Prof Stephen Adei stated that the flagship programme which cost about GH¢7.5 annually should be reviewed because it has stretched the already impacted economy.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • SHS postings out: GES announces confirmation of school selection for 2021 BECE candidates

    The Ghana Education Service has announced confirmation of school selection for 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates.

    In a release signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the GES stated that the candidates can verify and confirm school choices through bulk SMS, USSD and online.

    “As part of measures to ensure smooth placement this year, the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) Secretariat has made available the choices of schools selected by the 2021 BECE Candidates through bulk SMS, USSD messaging and online for verification and confirmation,” the release noted.

    SHS postings out: GES announces confirmation of school selection for 2021 BECE candidates

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com