Angel Carbonu, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), has proposed a significant adjustment to Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy. Apexnewsgh reports
In a radio interview with Accra-based Okay FM on January 10, 2025, Carbonu suggested that parents should be made to pay for their children’s feeding and accommodation in senior high schools.
According to Carbonu, the current economic climate has made the Free SHS program unsustainable in its present form. He emphasized that while the program has undeniable benefits, the government’s financial constraints necessitate a review. This proposal aligns with a similar suggestion by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), which urged parents to assist with feeding challenges in senior high schools.
Carbonu criticized the government’s reliance on the National Food Buffer Stock Company, citing delayed food allocations to schools. He suggested sending students home temporarily while stakeholders discuss solutions and emphasized the need for a Minister of Education to lead these deliberations.
Ghana’s financial challenges, described by Carbonu as “debt-ridden” and “distressed,” have left the nation with limited resources to sustain subsidies like Free SHS. He proposed targeted support, focusing on tuition and offering bursaries to financially distressed families rather than providing blanket subsidies.
Ultimately, Carbonu called for open dialogue, urging the government to initiate a national economic discussion to address the current crisis and promote transparency about Ghana’s financial challenges.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
