Patrick Awuah Jnr, the President and Founder of Ashesi University, has firmly opposed the idea of dismantling Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, calling it a constitutional mandate and a vital investment for the country’s future.
In an interview on The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV, Awuah emphasized the importance of maintaining the programme, stating that the right to education, particularly through secondary school, is enshrined in the Ghanaian constitution. He pointed out that there is a strong correlation between a country’s GDP and the percentage of its population that has access to secondary education.
Awuah acknowledged both the challenges and achievements of the Free SHS initiative, but he stressed that the current debate should focus on improving the programme rather than dismantling it. “The conversation that we were having ten years ago is not the conversation we should be having today,” he said, highlighting that Free SHS has already become an established part of the country’s education system. He added that now, after ten years, the focus should be on improving the quality of education and addressing any existing challenges, not on canceling the programme.
The Need for Patience and Quality Improvement
Awuah noted that the Free SHS programme was introduced abruptly, which led to both positive outcomes and difficulties. However, he believes the focus should now shift to quality. “What you should be thinking is what you can do to improve the quality for all children, that should be the entire focus,” he stated.
As political parties prepare for the December 7, 2024 elections, many have proposed plans to enhance Free SHS, aiming to align it with the evolving needs of the modern workforce. According to Awuah, the emphasis should be on providing students with the skills and resources needed to thrive in today’s job market, not on reversing a program that has already had significant impact.
