Bt Kwame Okyere Darko Bekoe
The TV3 National Level Dialogue on Free SHS, Problems, Progress and Prospects was held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. The dialogue was organized by TV3 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).
The dialogue brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including educationists, policymakers, and civil society organizations, to discuss the Free SHS policy. The discussion focused on the following key areas:
- The challenges of implementing the Free SHS policy, such as the increase in enrollment, the lack of infrastructure, and the shortage of teachers.
- The progress that has been made under the Free SHS policy, such as the increase in the WASSCE pass rate and the reduction in the number of out-of-school children.
- The prospects for the Free SHS policy, such as the need to improve the quality of education and to make the policy sustainable.
The dialogue was a valuable opportunity to discuss the Free SHS policy and to identify ways to improve it. The participants agreed that the policy is a major achievement for Ghana, but that it needs to be supported and improved in order to achieve its full potential.
Some of the key recommendations that emerged from the dialogue include:
- The government should invest in infrastructure and teacher training to improve the quality of education in public schools.
- The government should introduce a voucher system to give parents more choice of schools for their children.
- The government should work with private schools to provide quality education at affordable prices.
- The government should create a national databank to track the progress of students under the Free SHS policy.
The TV3 National Level Dialogue on Free SHS was a timely and important event. It provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and prospects of the policy, and to make recommendations for its improvement. The dialogue is a step towards ensuring that the Free SHS policy achieves its full potential and benefits all Ghanaian children.
Here are some additional thoughts on the Free SHS policy:
- The policy has been a major success in increasing access to education. The number of students enrolled in senior high school has increased by more than 500% since the policy was implemented.
- The policy has also led to an improvement in the quality of education. The WASSCE pass rate has increased significantly, and more students are now going on to tertiary education.
- However, the policy has also faced some challenges. The government has struggled to meet the increased demand for infrastructure and teachers. This has led to overcrowding in schools and a decline in the quality of education.
- The government needs to address these challenges in order to ensure the sustainability of the Free SHS policy. The government should invest more in infrastructure and teacher training, and it should work to improve the quality of education in public schools.
The Free SHS policy is a major achievement for Ghana. It has increased access to education and improved the quality of education for many Ghanaian children. However, the policy faces some challenges that need to be addressed. The government needs to invest more in infrastructure and teacher training, and it needs to work to improve the quality of education in public schools. If the government can address these challenges, the Free SHS policy will continue to be a major success for Ghana.