Re: Free SHS, NDC dilemma: A look into the future

In the January 16, 2025, issue of Graphic Online, there was a publication of an opinion written by the Executive Director, IFEST Ghana, on the above subject matter.

The writer recounted the challenges the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) government faced in addressing the recurring financial problems associated with the Free SHS programme.

Hence, there were calls to let parents take some costs of the programme to ease the financial burden on the government. However, the writer was quick to remind the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to tread cautiously to not court disaffection since the programme is well accepted by all.

Among all the strategic options suggested by the writer, I wish to side with “Public-private partnerships, as implemented in Kenya to enhance school infrastructure, could serve as a model for Ghana” as mentioned.

This option is the easiest of all the options, and if well communicated to the public, it can be accepted to sustain the programme for a long time.

There are certain items the government provides once as part of the packages of Free SHS that parents are already providing. 

For instance, the government provides two sets of school uniforms, a school cloth, two sets of house dresses and P.E. kits for each student only once.

I believe these are costs parents can easily carry.

Because what the government provides does not get to the children early (sometimes they delay for a whole year), parents and guardians are told to buy or sew Khaki shorts/trousers or black trousers and white/check shirts for the boys and long white/check dresses for girls.

Today, as we talk, these “non-school uniforms” have become regular school uniforms for students on certain days.

So, if parents bear these costs without qualms, why can’t we convert the same costs into buying the actual school uniform at once?

That is, these uniforms are produced by the government at subsidised prices and placed at the various schools so that parents can use the same money they would have used to buy or sew khakis and checks to buy the school uniform at once.

The good thing is that if a parent claims he or she cannot buy the uniform, they should be allowed to buy or sew the khaki and check for their wards.

There already exist policies that enable the procurement of uniforms at the school level, but paid for centrally.

This means that no head of school can sell the uniforms to parents for more than the recommended price.

At the end of the year, the money accrued from these sales is paid to the government or reimbursed for the running of the schools. 

By this, I believe it can take some of the financial burdens off the government’s shoulders and get the parents also involved in helping educate their wards. The same thing can be done concerning other uniforms worn, as identified.

Finally, the other one-time payment is examination fees, which I believe with proper planning, parents should be able to share with the government.

Wodewole Emmanuel Kwabla,
Teacher, Odorgonno SHS, 
Awoshie, Accra.