The Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) has called for a review of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, suggesting that parents contribute to part of the costs to ensure the programme’s long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
This proposal follows an appeal from the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to the Ministry of Education to release overdue funds essential for the smooth operation of SHSs as they prepare for the 2025 academic year.
In a communiqué signed by CHASS National Secretary Primus Baro, the group pointed to previous correspondences from September 20, 2024, and August 12, 2024, along with assurances from the Minister of Education during a Zoom meeting on December 18, 2024, none of which have been acted upon.
CHASS emphasized that unpaid arrears for perishable items, utility bills, and other essentials continue to hamper the functioning of schools.
They stressed that without these funds, reopening schools as scheduled on January 3, 2025, would be challenging, impacting quality education, infrastructure maintenance, and student welfare.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, Patrick Danquah, Deputy Director of IFEST, reiterated the importance of reassessing the Free SHS policy to address these challenges effectively.
“Free SHS needs to be reviewed so that they can relook at the element of taking part of the cost and allowing the parents who were handling the costs better to continue to handle it the way they did,” Danquah stated.
