President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has praised the success of the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative, stating that over 5.7 million students have benefited since its launch in 2017.
Speaking during his tour of the Western North Region on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the President emphasized the policy’s transformative impact on Ghana’s education system.
“The changes that have come in our educational system are dramatic,” President Akufo-Addo stated, pointing out that the Free SHS has not only increased access to secondary education but has also enabled a generation of students to pursue their academic goals without the barrier of school fees.
He disclosed that prior to the programme, over 100,000 students each year could not continue to SHS due to financial constraints, leading to the loss of over 1 million students in the last decade.
“When I assumed the reins of government, we had 800,000 students in senior high school, but today that figure has more than doubled. To date, 5.7 million students have benefited from the Free SHS policy,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo recognized the challenges faced in rolling out the Free SHS program but affirmed that its benefits greatly outweigh these obstacles.
He highlighted the program’s positive impact on families who once struggled with high school fees, now allowing their children to pursue education and better future prospects.
Addressing critics, whom he referred to as “Jeremiahs,” he expressed satisfaction that the program has defied skepticism and proven its value.
“I told you it would work, and now the results are clear. Free SHS is a game-changer,” he noted.
He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for the youth, noting that the Free SHS initiative was a cornerstone of his administration’s vision for an inclusive and accessible education system in Ghana.
