Private senior high schools participating in the government’s pilot Free SHS expansion programme have declared their readiness to receive the first batch of students who have gained admission into their schools, effective Monday.

During an appearance on Friday, October 17, the Spokesperson for the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools (CHOPSS), Naphtali Kyei-Baffour, mentioned that approximately 25,000 students are expected to report to the seventy (70) schools participating in the nationwide pilot programme on Monday.

He added that some students have already visited their schools to collect their prospectuses and complete registration ahead of full enrolment on Monday.

“Yes, indeed, we are expecting several students to report to the SHSs. That is the 70 that are part of the piloting system we are doing. We are expecting to receive almost 25,000 of them. Some of them have started coming to collect their prospectus and are ready to join, just as they have been posted. We are ready — in terms of facilities, preparedness, and everything, we are ready to receive them. We are expecting that they come to the various schools from Monday,” he said.

The expansion of the Free SHS programme to private schools forms part of the government’s efforts to ease congestion in public senior high schools and also gradually phase out the double-track system, which was introduced by the erstwhile government.

According to the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, it is a fulfilment of the government’s manifesto promise, adding that it is a step to ensure eligible students gain admission without delays.

The double-track system was introduced in 2018 by the erstwhile government to accommodate the surge in student enrollment due to the Free SHS policy, addressing overcrowding in public schools. Under this system, students were divided into two groups, Green Track and Gold Track, attending school in shifts, with one track in session while the other was on break.

Executive Director of GNACOPS, Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, recently stated that parents who opt to board their wards in these schools will pay the difference between the government’s contribution and the school’s boarding fees citing thaqt the pilot involves only day stuents.

“For now, the pilot covers only day students, with government paying GH₵994 per child enrolled in participating private schools,” he clarified.

This was after the Ministry of Education had announced plans to pay GH₵994 annually for each student placed in private senior high schools under the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

“Government is committed to providing a stipend to support the transition of students moving into private schools. That figure is negotiable, but for a start, this is the commitment we are making for this pilot inclusion.”

This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, marking a new phase in the inclusion of selected private institutions in the national Free SHS policy.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu explained that the move is part of the government’s strategy to ensure equitable access to quality education in both public and private institutions.

President of CHOPSS, I.K. Mensah, has welcomed the initiative and indicated that discussions are ongoing to expand the programme and possibly revise the funding structure in future phases.

The Free Senior High School policy was introduced in 2017 by the Akufo-Addo-led government to make secondary education accessible to all eligible students without financial barriers.

The policy was aimed at helping students who struggled to pay tuition, boarding, and other school-related expenses. However, the policy came with its challenges, such as overcrowding and congestion in schools, pressure on infrastructure and facilities, and increased pressure on teachers.

This increased the number of enrollments in the senior high schools that were listed under the Free SHS policy. About 3.5 million students have benefited from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program since its launch.

The immediate-past government revealed that it had spent over GH¢12 billion on the implementation of the Free SHS policy since its inception. Meanwhile, 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.

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.

“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. 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.”

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has recognised 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 now and then because there is no food, then it is not fit for purpose.”

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.

“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.”