A tutor at Kumasi Senior High Technical School (KSTS), Andy Owusu, has shed light on a concerning issue plaguing the institution.

Speaking on Oyerepa FM he stated that the shortage of sugar is impacting breakfast meals provided to the beneficiaries of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme.

According to Mr Owusu, the scarcity has led to disruptions in the morning routine, with a noticeable decline in student attendance at the dining hall.

He indicated that out of approximately 2,000 students enrolled at KSTS, only around 100 of them have been attending breakfast sessions due to the absence of sugar in their meals.

“If you come to KSTS we don’t have sugar to give to the students. Since Thursday, we have been feeding the breakfast without porridge. Most of them don't even come to the dining hall to eat as a result of the lack of sugar in their breakfast. Out of 2,000 students about a 100 of them report to the dining hall,”he added. The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) education policy in Ghana was initiated during the September 2017 administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Originating from one of the President's campaign promises during the 2016 election period, the policy has evolved into a crucial component of Ghana's educational system.

The programme has received massive criticism from various civil society organizations and educational institutions.

As per reports from Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) over 5.7 million Ghanaian students have benefitted from the programme.The education think tank has revealed that the Free SHS policy has granted  a substantial increase in secondary school enrollment, soaring from 813,448 in the 2016/17 academic year to 1.3 million in the 2022/23 academic year.

The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and other analysts have also highlighted fiscal and quality challenges that require careful reconsideration.

In November 2023, ISSER underscored the importance of reviewing specific aspects of the Free SHS program, including the sustainability of the government fully covering students' tuition and costs within budget constraints.The escalating teacher-student ratios in public SHS schools were also noted, impacting resources and learning.

The World Bank suggested means-testing and cost-sharing arrangements by parents to optimize program benefits and affordability.

In February 2024, the Executive Director of the Institute for Education Services (IFEST),Dr. Peter Anti, emphasized that acknowledging funding challenges in the Free SHS program is crucial for making progress in addressing the issue.

"While we were doing double track, we should have made a conscious effort to improve the infrastructure in our schools. Now we don’t know what is happening, we decided to go and do other kinds of projects within the same education sector,” he said.

Mr. Andy Owusu a Tutor at KSTS has revealed that Free SHS students at KSTS are been fed Porridge without Sugar.He blamed this inhuman act on Government and said there has always been shortage of Food since the introduction of the Free SHS Program pic.twitter.com/Yi0gaZxGNE— Kyei Meshack (@KyeiMeshack) March 13, 2024