In a recent report, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) unveiled the transformative effects of the government’s flagship initiative, the free senior high school (Free SHS) policy, on Ghana’s educational landscape.
Since its inception in September 2017, 2.5 million Ghanaian students have reaped the benefits of this program, marking a significant milestone in accessible education.
Eduwatch’s findings underscore the remarkable surge in secondary school enrollment, soaring from 813,448 students in the 2016/17 academic year to a staggering 1.3 million in the 2022/23 academic year.
This exponential growth is directly attributed to the implementation of the Free SHS policy, signifying a monumental shift towards broader educational inclusivity and opportunity.
Over the course of the first six years of the policy, Eduwatch reveals an average annual enrollment of 422,940 students, a stark contrast to the average of 260,490 enrollments recorded in the six years preceding the policy’s introduction.
Such statistics illuminate the profound impact of Free SHS in breaking down barriers to education and empowering Ghanaian youth with access to quality schooling.
In light of these revelations, Eduwatch has put forth strategic recommendations to the Ministry of Education (MoE) aimed at optimizing the efficacy of the Free SHS policy.
Emphasizing the importance of equitable access, they advocate for a targeted approach that prioritizes students hailing from economically disadvantaged households in the short term.
To achieve this objective, Eduwatch proposes leveraging insights from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program as a foundational strategy.
By harnessing data-driven interventions and tailored support mechanisms, policymakers can address the specific needs of vulnerable student demographics, fostering a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape.
