Child Rights International has issued a strong warning against attempts to shift the cost of feeding pupils under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy onto parents.
In a statement issued on January 11, 2025, the group stressed the need of preserving the Free SHS program’s integrity, calling it as a transformative project that has considerably enhanced access to education in Ghana since its inception in 2017.
The statement firmly rejected recommendations that parents shoulder the burden of supplying food and essential supplies for their children in senior high schools.
Such plans, according to Child Rights International, go against the fundamental tenets of the Free SHS policy, which was created to remove financial obstacles to education and guarantee inclusion for all Ghanaian students.
The Free SHS program has been hailed as a historic social initiative from its start. It has made secondary education accessible to millions of students, particularly those from underprivileged families and underserved communities, by paying for tuition, food, housing, and other related expenses.
The impact of the program has been most noticeable in rural areas, where many families were previously unable to send their children to school due to the high expense of education. Across the nation, it has helped to raise reading levels, lower dropout rates, and increase enrollment rates.
However, the initiative has faced considerable obstacles, such as overcrowded classrooms, delays in grant disbursement, and logistical issues, particularly with food. These obstacles have spurred public discussion over the policy’s long-term viability.
According to Child Rights International, any program modifications must focus on addressing its issues without jeopardizing the basic benefits that ensure schooling is available to all Ghanaian children.
