Parents still bear 77% costs despite free SHS policy — EduWatch

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A new report by education policy research organization Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) has found that the Government of Ghana spends less than one-third of the total cost of senior high school education.

The report reveals that parents are still bearing the majority of expenses under the free SHS policy.

Titled 'Financial Burden Analysis of Ghana's Free Senior High School Policy', the report analysed government funding and expenditures on SHS from 2017-2022.

It revealed that "the average government spending per student under the free SHS policy between the 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years was GH¢1,241 with parents spending GH¢ 4,185 per annum."

"This suggests that, as a result of the introduction of free SHS, government has absorbed about 23% of the cost of secondary education originally borne by parents prior to 2017, while parents still bear 77%,” it noted.

The findings indicate that although the policy has boosted access to SHS, the goal of making it truly free is yet to be achieved.

EduWatch is calling on the government to further reduce costs for parents through more targeted funding, to ensure disadvantaged families can equally benefit from this crucial education reform.

The full report can be accessed on the EduWatch website via https://africaeducationwatch.org/publication/financial-burden-analysis-of-the-free-shs-policy-and-implications