Allow some students to pay for their own school fees under the Free SHS – Prof Aryeetey
The modus operandi of the government’s flagship Free Senior High School policy has come under scrutiny again this time round from former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey who has opined that the programme should target persons with genuine needs and not a wholesale policy.
Speaking at a Leadership Dialogue Series by the Centre of Social Justice under the theme ‘Ghana’s education system, current state, and future aspirations’, the former University of Ghana Vice-Chancellor further suggested that some Senior High Schools should be allowed to demand fees whereas others are made free.
This, he believes will create a fair playing field for students from all walks of life.
“I believe strongly that we need to target people, and the most appropriate way is by means-testing. Means testing by the government will reduce the cost of tuition to the government and the monies saved channelled to improving the facilities and providing quality service. We have to find ways of pursuing what best works in our environment. Instead of making SHSs free, why don’t we make some free and others payable.”
“With that parents get to make a decision based on their strength. Even with the schools that are not free, scholarship opportunities could be created to allow people who are not financially strong to compete for them. That way, we can drag everyone along, poor or rich.”
In recent times there have been calls on the government to review the Free SHS policy, as it takes a chunk of the country’s resources, and poses a threat to quality, although access has drastically improved.
But the government argues that the programme will remain as it is, despite the challenges in the release of funds to the various Senior High Schools.
The tenth edition of the Leadership Dialogue Series held via Zoom under the auspices of the Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, was moderated by Journalist, Mrs Dzifa Gbeho-Bampoh of TV3.
Apart from the guest speaker, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, a parent, Dr Foster Kwawu, and a graduate of the government’s Free Senior High School policy, Ruby Charlene Opoku, also participated in the discussion.
