Alan Kyerematen, a presidential aspirant for the upcoming 2024 elections, has unveiled an ambitious and comprehensive plan to reform Ghana’s Free SHS (Senior High School) programme.
His proposal aims to address critical issues of sustainability, quality, and outcomes, ensuring the policy’s long-term impact and better preparing graduates for life after SHS, whether they choose to pursue tertiary education or enter the workforce.
Speaking at the Presidential Encounters 2024 event hosted by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on November 22, 2024, Kyerematen emphasized the success and importance of the Free SHS policy but highlighted its limitations in its current form.
He questioned the absence of provisions for students’ transition after SHS, asking, “After Free SHS, what next?” He pointed out that, while the policy has provided access to education, it has not adequately addressed what happens once students graduate. Without clear pathways for their next steps, the policy risks failing to maximize its potential.
Kyerematen’s reforms are part of his broader Great Transformational Plan (GTP), which includes proposals focused on five key areas: financial sustainability, infrastructure development, curriculum improvement, capacity building for educators, and transitioning graduates into productive sectors.
Kyerematen stressed that ensuring the sustainability of the Free SHS programme requires a thorough evaluation of its funding sources. He raised the crucial question, “Where are we going to find the money to sustain this?” He emphasized the importance of financial sustainability, urging the government to explore long-term solutions that would ensure the policy remains viable for future generations.
He also pointed to the significant infrastructural deficits in many schools, including overcrowded classrooms, poorly maintained dormitories, and lack of adequate teaching facilities, all of which need urgent attention to improve the learning environment.
In addition to financial sustainability, Kyerematen proposed a substantial investment in improving the physical infrastructure of schools. Many schools under the Free SHS programme are operating with outdated or inadequate facilities, which can impede effective teaching and learning.
By addressing these infrastructural deficits, such as increasing the number of classrooms, expanding dormitory spaces, and upgrading other educational facilities, the policy’s impact can be enhanced, offering a better environment for both students and teachers.
Another area of focus for Kyerematen is the current curriculum, which he believes needs to be reviewed and modernized to better prepare students for the demands of the job market. He questioned whether the curriculum under the Free SHS programme equips students with relevant, practical skills or merely focuses on academic content.
“What are we teaching them under Free SHS? Is it helping them transition into the world of work?” Kyerematen argued that the curriculum should better align with the needs of the economy, ensuring that students leave school with skills that will make them employable or ready to start their own businesses.
As part of his reform plan, Kyerematen also proposed a major focus on capacity building for both teachers and administrative staff. He emphasized the need to equip educators with the necessary tools and skills to deliver high-quality education, ensuring that teachers are adequately trained and supported.
Additionally, non-teaching staff, who play an essential role in managing and maintaining the schools, must be given the training and resources needed to effectively manage school operations.
One of the most innovative aspects of Kyerematen’s proposal is the introduction of a compulsory one-year apprenticeship and internship programme.
This initiative would provide Free SHS graduates with practical, hands-on training in skills such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and other artisanal trades. Graduates will be certified in these fields, enabling them to enter the job market with marketable skills.
For those interested in entrepreneurship, Kyerematen proposed creating opportunities for graduates to access government funding, mentorship, and resources to start and grow their own businesses. His aim is to foster a new generation of youth-led enterprises that can contribute to job creation and reduce unemployment.
The Health Screening Booths Scheme, where graduates could run health screening booths on a work-and-pay basis, is another key part of this plan. This initiative addresses both the need for job opportunities and the pressing issue of healthcare access in underserved areas.
In addition to vocational and entrepreneurial pathways, Kyerematen also proposed creating dedicated recruitment pathways into Ghana’s national security services for graduates interested in such careers.
He also addressed the challenges faced by students wanting to pursue higher education, promising financial support to remove the financial barriers that may prevent them from continuing their education. Kyerematen’s vision includes a robust system that encourages lifelong learning and professional development.
Criticizing the current focus on SHS without sufficient attention to basic and pre-basic education, Kyerematen emphasized that strengthening these foundational stages is equally important to ensure that students are fully prepared for secondary education. “We talk about Free SHS as if the foundation doesn’t matter,” he said, advocating for a more holistic approach to education that strengthens all levels of schooling.
Kyerematen also proposed a nationwide digitalization initiative, which includes the establishment of 100,000 free satellite internet hotspots across the country, including all secondary schools.
These hotspots, which would offer telecom-independent connectivity, would provide essential access to the internet for students, teachers, and communities.
This initiative aims to revolutionize teaching and learning, particularly for the youth, who are increasingly relying on digital tools for education and entrepreneurship. The satellite internet initiative is also seen as a way to bridge the digital divide, especially for content creators who face high data costs.
Kyerematen’s vision for the Free SHS programme goes beyond just providing access to education; it aims to equip students with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in the modern world.
By addressing key challenges such as sustainability, curriculum quality, infrastructure, and post-graduation pathways, his reforms aim to ensure that every graduate has the support and opportunities needed to succeed in life.
His plan, through the Great Transformational Plan, presents a comprehensive and forward-thinking solution that seeks to transform the Free SHS policy into a powerful tool for nation-building, ensuring that no graduate is left behind.
