Parents Would Have Paid Ghc18,850 for Their Wards to Attend Secondary School, Had It Not Been Free SHS
In recent years, one of the most significant policy initiatives by the Ghanaian government has been the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program. Launched in September 2017, the policy aimed to reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians, ensuring that every Ghanaian child has access to secondary education, irrespective of their financial background. Prior to the program’s implementation, the cost of secondary education in Ghana was a major barrier for many families.
According to estimates, parents would have had to pay an average of Ghc18,850 per child for a three-year secondary school education, had the Free SHS policy not been introduced. This figure includes tuition fees, examination fees, hostel fees, and other incidental costs associated with attending high school. For many families, this sum is a significant financial strain, especially considering the widespread challenges of poverty and unemployment in the country.
Breakdown of Costs
Before the introduction of Free SHS, the costs associated with sending a child to secondary school were multifaceted. Tuition fees, which covered the cost of the academic program, were one of the largest expenses. In addition to this, parents had to pay for textbooks, school uniforms, transport, and other miscellaneous items such as school bags and stationery. For students boarding at the school, accommodation fees were another substantial financial burden. On average, the cost of these combined services could amount to Ghc3,000–5,000 per year, depending on the school and whether the student was a day or a boarding pupil.
In the past, some parents had to take out loans, sell property, or rely on relatives and friends to fund their children's secondary education. This often meant that education was a privilege available only to families with higher incomes or those who were able to make extreme financial sacrifices. For many students from low-income backgrounds, the dream of completing secondary education seemed out of reach.
The Impact of Free SHS
The introduction of Free SHS has had a profound effect on these dynamics. The policy covers the cost of tuition, textbooks, and other essential educational materials. Additionally, it alleviates the burden of accommodation fees for students attending government-run schools. As a result, many parents now have the peace of mind that their children can attend secondary school without the fear of financial exclusion. This policy has particularly benefitted students from rural and underserved communities, who previously faced even greater challenges in accessing quality education.
Furthermore, Free SHS has allowed students to focus more on their studies rather than on the financial pressures that might otherwise distract them. It has led to increased enrollment in secondary schools across the country, with thousands of children who would have otherwise been excluded now gaining access to education.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite its successes, the Free SHS policy has not been without challenges. Critics argue that the government’s budget allocation for the program has often been insufficient, leading to overcrowded classrooms, shortages of teaching materials, and a strain on infrastructure. Some schools, especially in rural areas, have struggled to accommodate the surge in students. Others point out that while the policy covers tuition, there are still other costs that families have to bear, such as school uniforms, transport, and feeding.
Moreover, some have called for a more targeted approach that takes into account the needs of students from lower-income families who may still struggle to cover these additional costs.
Conclusion
The Free Senior High School policy has significantly reduced the financial burden on parents and has made secondary education more accessible to many Ghanaian students. Had the policy not been implemented, parents would have been required to pay up to Ghc18,850 for a child’s three-year secondary education, which could have excluded a large portion of the population from benefiting from higher education. While challenges remain, the policy represents a major step towards making education a universal right for all Ghanaian children, paving the way for a brighter future for the nation.
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