Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the government's Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, pledging to build upon its successes and address existing challenges.

Delivering a national address at the UPSA auditorium on February 7, Bawumia highlighted the government's achievement in achieving historic levels of SHS enrollment and lauded the performance of students in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

"We have also implemented Free SHS with an increase in enrollment from 800,000 in 2016 to 1.4 million by 2022. The year 2023 has recorded the highest-ever level of enrollment in SHS of around 500,000 students," stated Bawumia.

He underscored the significance of the Free SHS policy in promoting access to education, achieving gender parity, and improving academic performance, emphasizing that under his leadership, the policy would continue and be further improved.

"The performance of the students at WASSCE is also the best since 2015, and we have also achieved gender parity. Under my government, Free SHS will continue, and we will improve upon it. Who can you trust to protect and improve Free SHS? Once again, it is Dr. Bawumia," he affirmed.

Despite calls for revisions and improvements to the Free SHS policy from various quarters, including groups and individuals, the Akufo-Addo government has maintained its stance on the initiative. However, the government has agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reassess the program and its associated costs, signaling a commitment to ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of the policy.

Bawumia's pledge to enhance the Free SHS policy comes at a crucial juncture as Ghana prepares for the upcoming general elections. His remarks reflect the NPP's dedication to education reform and its vision for advancing access to quality education for all Ghanaian students.

As the political landscape evolves, the future of the Free SHS policy is expected to remain a focal point of debate and discussion, with Bawumia's promises adding a new dimension to the discourse surrounding education policy in Ghana.