President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to calls for the Free SHS policy to be targeted, suggesting that individuals who can afford private school fees should send their wards to private institutions.
His comments come in the wake of concerns about the financial strain the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy places on the national budget.
The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, had earlier urged the government to reconsider the Free SHS policy, proposing that affluent families pay fees to allow more resources to be directed towards less privileged students.
Addressing the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association in Kumasi, President Akufo-Addo defended the policy, stating that public schools funded by taxpayers must remain free for all, especially those who would otherwise be unable to afford secondary education.
“People who can afford to pay fees for the education of their wards should send them to fee-paying private schools. Public schools that are funded by the taxpayer should be free to all who will otherwise be unable to pay for their education.
“That is why the number of pupils who have access to secondary education has doubled since the introduction of the free senior high school policy.”
“Over 5.7 million persons have benefitted from the policy since its inception. The following impact of this dramatic development will be felt in due course and will far outweigh the small number of privileged parents who can afford to pay for the education of their wards,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
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