The Aftermath of a Poorly Implemented Free Education Policy: A Call for Review and Sustainability

The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy introduced by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government was touted as a transformative intervention to ensure equitable access to secondary education in Ghana. The initiative promised to remove the financial barriers that often kept students from furthering their education. However, the reality of its implementation has left the nation grappling with numerous challenges, underscoring the need for a thorough review.

Before the Free SHS policy, the Northern Scholarship Programme provided partial financial support to students in northern Ghana and other designated areas. This programme, while beneficial, struggled under the weight of perennial financial deficits, leading to unpaid suppliers and inadequate resources for schools. Critics of the Free SHS policy, citing the challenges of the Northern Scholarship Programme, warned of potential pitfalls. However, the government dismissed these concerns, seemingly more focused on electoral victory than long-term sustainability.

Although the policy was widely embraced by parents, many were unaware of the financial strain it placed on the government. Promises made during the campaign, such as the provision of past questions for students and nutritious meals, were not consistently fulfilled. Reports of food shortages and substandard meals became common, revealing cracks in the system.

Worse still, the government failed to acknowledge these shortcomings, choosing instead to portray a facade of success. The true cost of the policy—both financial and educational—remained hidden from the public.

While access to education improved, the quality of education suffered. Teachers and school heads were under immense pressure to produce stellar results to validate the policy’s success. This pressure led to compromises in standards, with allegations of examination malpractices and leniency in grading becoming rife. The focus shifted from genuine learning to superficial achievements, leaving many students ill-prepared for tertiary education or the job market.

As the NPP government prepares to leave office, there is an urgent need for a national conversation on the future of Free SHS. A comprehensive review of the policy is essential to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness.

The new government must engage all stakeholders, including parents, students, teachers, and school administrators. Their insights and experiences are invaluable in identifying the policy’s strengths and weaknesses.

A hybrid model where parents who can afford to pay fees contribute to their children’s education could be considered. This approach would ease the financial burden on the government while ensuring that resources are directed to the most vulnerable students.

Measures must be taken to restore the quality of education. Adequate resources, teacher training, and infrastructure development should be prioritized.

A transparent accounting of the policy’s successes and failures is crucial. Ghanaians deserve to know how funds were utilized and the challenges faced by the program.

As the saying goes, "the length of the frog is only known after its death." Now is the time for Ghanaians to reflect on the Free SHS policy without political bias. Any attempt to review or revise the program should be seen not as an attack on education but as an effort to secure its future.

Education is the backbone of national development, and Ghana’s future leaders deserve a system that is not only accessible but also of high quality. The incoming government must rise above partisan interests and work to create an education policy that benefits all.

To conclude, the Free SHS policy was a bold and laudable initiative, but its poor implementation has left it in dire need of reform. Ghanaians must support efforts to review and restructure the program to ensure it fulfills its promise of providing quality education for all. A united approach, free from political propaganda, will pave the way for a better education system and a brighter future for Ghana.