The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has proposed that parents with children in senior high schools should bear the cost of feeding and accommodation as part of a review of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Okay FM on Friday, January 10, 2025, Mr.

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Carbonu stressed that while the Free SHS programme has significant benefits, the current economic challenges make it unsustainable in its current form.“It is the view and position of our association that while Free SHS has undeniable benefits, the current economic climate makes the programme unsustainable in its present form,” he stated.

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His remarks align with a similar recommendation made by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), which had earlier called on parents and guardians to assist in addressing feeding shortages in senior high schools.Mr. Carbonu referenced the ongoing food shortages affecting secondary schools, noting that headmasters have requested parents to provide extra food items for their children before returning them to school.

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He criticized the government's dependence on the National Food Buffer Stock Company for food supply, arguing that it has led to delays in the distribution of food to schools.“The government has stopped headmasters from buying food directly. Instead, money is transferred to schools only after preliminary tasks such as population inventory are completed, and this slows everything down,” he explained.To mitigate the crisis, Mr.

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Carbonu proposed temporarily sending students home while stakeholders deliberate on long-term solutions. He also called for the swift appointment of a Minister of Education to lead these crucial discussions.Ghana’s Financial StrugglesHighlighting the financial difficulties facing Ghana, Mr. Carbonu described the nation as a “debt-ridden, distressed country” with limited resources to sustain universal subsidies like the Free SHS.

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He pointed out that most of the country’s revenue is consumed by salaries, interest payments, and statutory obligations, leaving minimal funds for other essential services.“Even after exams are written, the government struggles to pay for the marking of scripts. We are carrying something we are not financially capable of supporting,” he noted.

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Targeted Support Instead of Blanket SubsidiesThe NAGRAT President reiterated his association’s stance that the Free SHS policy should be revised to focus on tuition, while parents cover the costs of feeding and accommodation.

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“If you want your child to eat well and sleep comfortably, you should pay for it,” he emphasized, clarifying that this approach would not involve reintroducing general school fees but rather addressing specific boarding costs.He further proposed that the government should identify financially vulnerable families and provide them with targeted bursaries instead of maintaining blanket subsidies for all.

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“This way, we can focus on those who truly need help and avoid overstretching the system,” Mr. Carbonu suggested.Call for National DialogueMr. Carbonu urged the government to initiate a national economic dialogue, bringing together key stakeholders to develop practical solutions to the country’s ongoing financial crisis.“Our inability to tell the truth is why we are in this situation.

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If Ghana’s finances improve, we can offer Free SHS to all, but for now, we must stop deceiving ourselves,” he concluded.

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