President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has firmly rejected proposals to target the Free SHS policy. Instead, he suggested that wealthy families who can afford school fees should consider private schooling for their children.
Responding to recent criticism, including from Ghana Bar Association President Yaw Acheampong Boafo, who recommended that affluent families be required to pay fees, Akufo-Addo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining the Free SHS policy.
He highlighted the policy’s significant impact, noting that over 5.7 million students have benefited since its inception.
The president underscored the policy’s potential for long-term benefits, emphasizing that it provides valuable educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their financial background.
“People who can afford to pay fees for the education of their wards should send them to fee-paying private schools.
Public schools that are funded by the taxpayer should be free to all who will otherwise be unable to pay for their education. That is why the number of pupils who have access to secondary education has doubled since the introduction of the free senior high school policy,” he stated.
He continued: Over 5.7 million persons have benefitted from the policy since its inception. The following impact of this dramatic development will be felt in due course and will far outweigh the small number of privileged parents who can afford to pay for the education of their wards,” he stated.
