adverts
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has strongly refuted claims that 5.1 million students have benefitted from the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, as reported by the previous government.
He warned that relying on inflated figures could lead to financial mismanagement and resource wastage.
Speaking at his first official meeting with the ministry’s development partners on Wednesday, Mr. Iddrisu revealed that the actual number of beneficiaries stood at 3.9 million.
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He expressed concern that the misrepresentation of figures had significant implications for government spending.
“Someone may have been using the inflated 5.1 million figure for other purposes because, based on my assessment of the statistics, this number is inaccurate. The actual number of Ghanaian students benefiting from the policy stands at 3.9 million,” he stated.
He further emphasised the dangers of basing planning and resource allocation on inaccurate data, particularly in areas such as food supply for schools. “If someone planned and allocated resources, especially for food, based on the 5.1 million figure, imagine the harm it has caused to the state and the Republic,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu called for a comprehensive review of the sustainability of the Free SHS policy, citing concerns over its impact on fair resource distribution to other critical areas, particularly the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) program.
He disclosed that over GH¢7 billion had been spent on Free SHS since its inception in 2017. While the initiative has significantly improved access to secondary education, he noted that it has also placed a financial strain on the broader education budget.
“The constitution imposes a burden on us to provide progressive free secondary education; however, the current expenditure on Free SHS has limited the fair allocation of resources to other areas,” he said.
The minister also warned of an impending infrastructure crisis due to the rapid expansion of SHS enrolment without corresponding investments in tertiary education facilities. “If we do not prepare adequately, we may face a major infrastructure crisis in the coming years. We need significant investment in infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of students,” he cautioned.
To address this issue, Mr. Iddrisu proposed a strategic reallocation of resources from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). His suggested 40-20-20-20 formula would allocate 40% of GETFund resources to its core mandate, 20% to FCUBE, 20% to administrative expenditures, and 20% to complementary education initiatives.
“This formula ensures that every component of the education sector benefits from GETFund interventions,” he explained.
He also advocated for the uncapping of GETFund, arguing that it could free up GH¢3.2 billion to GH¢4 billion, potentially increasing the fund’s total resources to GH¢7.9 billion. “Uncapping GETFund will provide the necessary resources to address the infrastructure deficit and other pressing needs in the education sector,” he stated.
To improve food supply in schools, Mr. Iddrisu announced a shift to decentralised procurement, making headmasters and headteachers the focal points of food distribution.
He stated that the government plans to leverage the Ghana Commodity Exchange and Buffer Stock Company for better food distribution.
He revealed that GH¢100 million had already been released to address immediate food shortages, with another GH¢100 million needed for the next month. “We are working with the World Food Programme to ensure timely and nutritious food supplies for schools,” he added.
Regarding the double-track system, the minister proposed integrating private schools into the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to absorb up to 150,000 students. “The private sector can play a key role in alleviating pressure on public schools. With the right training and support, they can help us transition out of the double-track system,” he stated.
Mr. Iddrisu reiterated the need for a national debate on the future of the Free SHS policy and Ghana’s broader education system.
He emphasised the importance of sustainable financing, equitable resource allocation, and strategic planning to ensure the long-term success of Ghana’s education policies.
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