Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), a leading educational policy think tank, has expressed apprehension regarding the proposed government Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill, suggesting that it is being positioned more as a political legacy than a sustainable educational reform.

The bill, slated to be presented to Parliament soon, aims to regulate the Free SHS policy and ensure its long-term sustainability.

This policy, a cornerstone of the Akufo-Addo administration, aims to eliminate financial barriers to secondary education by covering fees, textbooks, boarding, and meals.

While the initiative has garnered praise for improving access to education, particularly for girls, Eduwatch contends that the timing of the bill and the government's approach suggest a focus on political gains rather than long-term educational benefits.

In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Kofi Asare, the Executive Director of Eduwatch, pointed out that the Free SHS policy was already covered under the Pre-Tertiary Education Act. Therefore, he questioned the necessity for a new law on the matter.

Asare also highlighted that the bill was addressing the least of the challenges faced by the Free SHS policy, emphasizing the need for urgent attention to more pressing issues.

“I am a bit lost because in December 2020 Parliament passed a law called the Pre Tertiary Education Law which is Act 10(49). This law which was assented on 29th December 2020 has free SHS captured under section 3 which says that ‘Secondary education in its different forms including TVET shall be free and accessible to all eligible candidates. So this provision in the pre-tertiary education law is to give legal effect, is to give binding effect.”

“…I think that perhaps the only reason is, it is a legacy reason. It looks more political legacy kind of style. But in reality, if you ask me the top 10 challenges or problems that require urgent attention on the Free SHS policy, the law would not be in the [space] of 10,” he stated.