The Free Senior High School (SHS) bill is on track to be presented to Parliament in the coming months, marking a significant step in formalizing and sustaining this key educational initiative.
Since its launch in 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Free SHS policy has aimed to provide free education at the senior high school level for all Ghanaian children. This policy has greatly increased student enrollment and broadened educational opportunities across the country.
In the 2024 budget, the government allocated GH¢3.9 billion to support the Free SHS program, underscoring its commitment to enhancing educational quality under this initiative.
Introducing the bill to Parliament is crucial for ensuring the policy’s longevity and making it a permanent part of Ghana’s educational framework. This legislative move is expected to establish a stable structure for funding and implementing the policy while addressing challenges encountered since its inception.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated that the bill aims to improve the policy’s effectiveness and sustainability, aligning with the goals outlined in Chapter 5 of the Constitution. He noted that while these provisions are currently aspirational, the government plans to make them enforceable through new legislation.
“I’m also able to report that the Education Minister will present the Free SHS bill to Parliament. Chapter five of the Constitution provides some aspirational indicators. Those are not justiciable, but once by a policy of the government, an aspiration as a message by the Constitution is put into action then to make it justiciable, you enact,” Afenyo-Markin explained.
The Free SHS policy has been credited with improving educational outcomes, as shown by the impressive results of students in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with many qualifying for tertiary education.
Passing this bill will solidify the government’s dedication to education and is expected to further propel the country’s development by equipping more young Ghanaians with essential skills and knowledge to contribute to the economy.
There have been calls from some Ghanaians for a review of the Free SHS policy, focusing on its impact, benefits, challenges, and overall effectiveness.
