The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has raised concerns over the challenges affecting Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, suggesting that a review may be necessary if critical issues such as food shortages, inadequate accommodation, and inconsistent academic calendars persist.
Speaking at the Manhyia Palace during a courtesy visit by Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, the Asantehene questioned the effectiveness of the policy in its current form.
The Asantehene also highlighted the dire conditions in many schools, pointing out the lack of adequate dormitory space, science and ICT laboratories, school buses, and sufficient food supply.
He lamented the discontinuation of support from Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) due to the policy’s structure.
“I will wish him well in his office as the education minister. I am not looking at the results now; that is for tomorrow. We can all testify that this is a plan we implemented. If it is about STEM, let us expand it. Every village needs the STEM education we are talking about. There are students in villages whose wish is to study the sciences we are discussing. When we put all these elements in place, it will serve us well. The E-blocks project has been abandoned, and some other school projects have also been abandoned. If we can cut down on expenses, we can solve these challenges.
“The majority of the dormitories in our schools are insufficient. We do not have science labs or ICT labs. We used to receive assistance from the PTA through dues, but that has been stopped. We don’t have school buses, and our food supply is inadequate. We have to address all these issues.
“We have implemented the free SHS policy, but we must ensure we are doing it well. We can all agree that if the free SHS allows our children to go to school for free but they get hungry and have to return home, then it is not effective. We can encourage a situation where we provide them with food at school, and after a few weeks, they return home. Let us fix this and ensure that when children go to school, they do so properly. Those who can afford to pay should be allowed to pay,” he stated.
“Let’s review Free SHS and allow those who have means to pay to pay as Gov’t funds those who are brilliant but needy” –
Otumfoɔ Osei Tutu II pic.twitter.com/JrZ98MKwtO
— Serwaa Amihere (@Serwaa_Amihere) March 17, 2025
