The free high school policy was implemented by the Akufo-Addo government in 2017
A former lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG) and political scientist, Dr Bonsu Osei-Wusu backed the President’s claims that some people on social media are deliberately flouting Free SHS policy.
According to him, people talk about the establishment of free SHS because they do not understand the education system.
“The Free SHS has brought its own problems, but we need to separate it from the problems specific to the Free SHS and look at the problems of our education system in general. Because if you say the government is not sending grants somewhere because of Free SHS, I disagree with you. This has been a problem in Ghana over the years, so let us look at ways to address this issue,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo accused some media houses of campaigning against Free SHS policy when speaking at a ceremony at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Saturday May 29, where an honorary doctorate was awarded to him.
“A radio station is currently carrying out a campaign against Free SHS. In the last election, I felt that Free SHS was cross-party approved and just needed to keep improving. Would a fiery defense of Frees SHS constitute an attack on the freedom of the press? I wonder,” the president said.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show with co-host, Abena Dufie Asare-Adjepong, Dr. Bonsu Osei-Wusu further explained that before 2017, the three northern regions had free education, but alleged that students were returning home almost every term because government grants were not flowing as planned.
“If now the government grant hasn’t come, has free SHS brought it or is it a problem with our education. Someone said they don’t have a textbooks; when the Free SHS came, they didn’t change syllables, so where are the textbooks they were using? he said.
Dr Bonsu Osei-Wusu who believed that some people were working to bring down the free SHS policy said, “If you know education, the last time we wrote a textbook for SHS electives in Ghana was c t was 1993, since then no government has purchased textbooks.
He added: “Let’s separate the issues, something like congestion in schools, lack of furniture and all those things because free SHS increased the number of students. The issues were already there, if not there are no manuals, it has nothing to do with Free SHS.
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