Former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has acknowledged that 3.5 million students have benefited from Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy since its inception, correcting an earlier overestimation.
Dr. Adutwum admitted to a mathematical error in his previous statement, in which he inaccurately claimed that over five million students had benefited from the programme.
Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show on Friday, February 14, Dr Adutwum admitted, “It was some accounting error that happened. Unfortunately, it took us some time to discover that in education, we shouldn’t be using the numbers as so articulated by the finance ministry. There was an error in the figures previously mentioned, and I take full responsibility for that. The correct number of beneficiaries stands at 3.5 million.”
Despite the miscalculation, he emphasized that Free SHS remains one of Ghana’s most transformative educational policies.
Dr Adutwum called on stakeholders to continue supporting the initiative to sustain its progress.
“Free SHS has changed the trajectory of education in Ghana, and we must do everything possible to ensure its continuous improvement.”
He highlighted the policy’s role in expanding access to secondary education and easing financial burdens on families.
Dr. Adutwum, who served as Education Minister from 2021 to 2024, reaffirmed the programme’s impact in ensuring that more students complete their secondary education without financial constraints.
“The Free SHS policy has transformed education in Ghana, allowing millions of students to pursue their dreams without the worry of school fees.”
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