Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), an education think tank, has urged Parliament to postpone the introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) Bill until extensive consultations are conducted with relevant stakeholders.
The organization voiced concerns over the government’s plan to present the Bill on December 16, highlighting the lack of necessary engagement with key groups.
In a statement released on December 13, EduWatch stressed the importance of inclusivity and transparency in crafting policies that impact Ghana’s education system.
The group has called on the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, to facilitate discussions with stakeholders, including education experts, civil society organizations, and parent-teacher associations, to ensure the Bill reflects a broad consensus.
EduWatch believes that such consultations are essential to address any gaps in the policy and to build national support for the Free SHS initiative.
“We call on Parliament to defer deliberations on the Bill until consultations are held. In the spirit of inclusive policy governance, we urge the Minister of Education to convene stakeholder consultative meetings and engage education Civil Society Organisations, Development Partners, parents, and teachers, on the Bill.”
The Free Senior High School Bill, 2024, drafted by the Ministry of Education (MoE), is to give legal backing to the provision of free and compulsory education at the Senior High School level.
