The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called for a reassessment of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, arguing that families who can afford to pay should be allowed to do so.
His suggestion aims to ensure that government resources are directed towards students who genuinely need financial support.
“Those who can afford to pay, let’s have a second look at the policy. If someone can afford it, let’s allow them to pay,” Otumfuo stated.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, the Asantehene reflected on how scholarship systems used to work in the past.
“In the old times, when you passed, the bursary would look for good but needy students and award them scholarships, and those who could afford to pay did so,” he explained.
Otumfuo also raised concerns about the current implementation of the Free SHS policy, emphasizing that if students are constantly sent home due to food shortages, the policy is failing its purpose.
“This Free SHS we are talking about, although we have implemented it, if we have a dialogue and find out that it will result in students coming home every now and then because there is no food, then it is not fit for purpose.”
Beyond food shortages, he highlighted issues such as overcrowded dormitories, the lack of essential science and ICT laboratories, and the absence of school buses.
He pointed out that in some cases, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) have had to step in to provide support.
“Our dormitories are overcrowded and lack science and ICT labs. Sometimes PTA makes contributions to support.
“The lack of school buses and the shortage of food should all be looked at. Let us implement it well so that students will stay in school and have enough to eat.”
