The Western Regional Chairman of the National Council of Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Mr. Daniel Vroom-Laryea, has bemoaned the high cost of running the Free SHS Policy. He noted: “The free SHS is becoming more expensive than we thought.”
He pointed out that, the cost of items listed on the prospectus of schools, which parents are expected to buy for their wards before taking them to school is becoming a serious predicament as many parents are unable to afford them. He cited the inability of beneficiary students to report to school more than two weeks after schools have reopened.
He also lamented about the government’s unwillingness to allow parents to assist the schools as it used to be the case despite the glaring challenges confronting the schools as a result of the FSHS Policy.
Mr. Vroom-Laryea also noted that numerous issues are hindering the smooth running of the Free SHS Policy and therefore called for its review. Amongst the issues, he questioned the reopening date of the schools, noting that it was not favorable for both parents and the students. According to him, Cocoa farmers in the rural areas complain about poor yields in the year and so do not have money to take their wards to school. “They must fill their chop boxes, some parents are even renting for their wards to be in school, they must buy a lot of things for them to be in school. So all those who have not reported, it’s due to financial issues. The free SHS is becoming more expensive than we thought. There are more hidden issues to the Free Senior High School Policy than we have all been made to believe,” he indicated.
He reiterated that the decision to stop PTAs from assisting schools is problematic considering the challenges they have faced since the introduction of the policy. “Parent Teacher Associations are being prevented from helping their schools, but we must know that Free SHS is meaningless without their support. We even recorded over 21 pregnancies in one of the Senior High Schools last year because there was no wall around the school, and the students were sneaking out. We are not being allowed to help, the government has stopped PTAs from doing everything in the schools and that is a problem”, he noted.
The Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Director of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Sally Nelly Coleman had disclosed that over 137,000 students placed during the 2023 Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) into Senior High Schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools across the country refused to go for their admissions in their various schools.
The Ghana Education Service in the latter part of 2023 released the computer placement list for fresh students who were to be admitted into the various senior high schools in the country. It does appear many of the students are yet to report for various reasons. Available records revealed that about 590,000 students were placed in various schools nationwide. So far, 453,000 have reported for admissions leaving about 137,000 who have yet or have failed to report to their various schools for admissions.