Child Rights International (CRI) has cautioned against shifting the cost of feeding and accommodation for students in Free Senior High Schools (SHS) to parents and guidance due to challenges with the programme.
According to CRI, the Free SHS programme is intended to eliminate financial barriers and promote inclusivity, therefore, transferring responsibilities like feeding to parents undermines the policy’s core intent and creates inequities it seeks to address
The organization expressed concerns about calls for burden-sharing and criticized these suggestions arguing that they undermine the foundational principles of the policy, which was designed to provide free and equitable access to secondary education.
In a statement, CRI urged stakeholders to engage directly with the government to resolve logistical challenges instead of shifting responsibilities to parents, many of whom face economic hardships.
“Placing these responsibilities on parents not only deviates from the policy’s framework but also adds undue pressure on families. The responsibility to address these challenges rests with the implementing authorities,” the organization emphasized.
Free SHS programme
CRI confirmed that the Free SHS policy remains intact, with no official directive requiring parental contributions. It insisted that any changes to the policy must go through a formal review and clear government communication.
“Protecting a social policy like Free SHS is a shared responsibility among all stakeholders and beneficiaries. When challenges arise, stakeholders must communicate the policy’s implementation and progression in ways that prioritize children’s welfare,” CRI stated.
The organization also reminded stakeholders of Ghana’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Act, emphasizing that all decisions affecting children must prioritize their best interests.
“No child should suffer from systemic flaws or a lack of necessities like food. It is our collective duty to ensure children fully benefit from policies like Free SHS, designed to support them.”
“Every decision must reflect the state’s responsibility to safeguard children’s rights and welfare,” the statement said.
CRI called for constructive dialogue and effective solutions to address current challenges while preserving the principles of equity and inclusiveness, reaffirming its commitment to protecting children’s rights.
Background
The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) education policy was a government initiative introduced in 2017 September by the Presidential administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The policy’s origination began as part of the President’s presidential campaign during Ghana’s 2016 election period and has become an essential part of Ghana’s educational system.[
The policy’s core themes of access, equity and equality fulfil the United Nations’ modified Sustainable Development Goals, where member countries amalgamate those themes in their educational systems to certify adequate learning experiences for students.
Respective politicians and social workers have been allocated the duty to ensure the policy’s efficiency, productivity and further development.
These leaders span varying governmental departments including Ghana’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning Ghana Education Service and Ghana’s Ministry of Education.
A review of Ghana’s former high school policies and operations led to the essential creation of Free SHS. The Ministry of Education observed the lack of efficiency in key areas; access to education, quality of education, and education management.
The fifth Education Strategic Plan targeted for 2010 to 2020, outlined the government’s key educational objectives. These objectives influenced by Ghana’s 2008 Education Act, are implemented in the policy to regulate these legislative solutions.
Since Ghana’s Independence in 1957, a series of reformations have been made to the educational system to restructure colonial and foreign models to suit Ghanaian people, culture and customs. These amendments were what was deemed an appropriate educational model for the newly decolonized state.
The 1961 Accelerated Development Plan (ADP) was established to attain the notion of ‘universal primary education’ with measures to abolish tuition fees and increase enrolment. The financial strain on households was not entirely lifted as the expenses of school supplies such as books and stationery were the responsibility of parents and guardians.
By Alhassan Abass/thenewsbulletin24.com
