Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has urged a reassessment of Ghana’s Free SHS initiative, recommending that households with sufficient means contribute financially so that government support can be directed toward students in real need.

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During a meeting with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, the Asantehene suggested a shared funding model, akin to previous arrangements where financial aid was granted to bright but disadvantaged students, while those with the ability to pay covered their own expenses.

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“Those who can afford to pay, let’s have a second look at the policy. If someone can afford it, let’s allow them to pay.

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“In the old times, when you passed, the bursary would look for good but needy students and award them scholarships, and those who could afford to pay did so.”

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Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has recognized the positive impact of the Free SHS policy but stressed the importance of a national discussion to tackle its shortcomings and secure its future.“This Free SHS we are talking about, although we have implemented it, if we have a dialogue and find out that it will result in students coming home every now and then because there is no food, then it is not fit for purpose.”

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He also pointed out several pressing concerns affecting secondary schools, including overcrowded dormitories, a lack of well-equipped science and ICT laboratories, irregular food supplies, and insufficient school buses.

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“Our dormitories are overcrowded and lack science and ICT labs. Sometimes PTA makes contributions to support. The lack of school buses and the shortage of food should all be looked at. Let us implement it well so that students will stay in school and have enough to eat.”

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Introduced in 2017, the Free SHS initiative was designed to make secondary education more accessible by eliminating financial barriers. However, while enrollment has risen, challenges regarding its funding and the quality of education remain.

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