Norbert Gborgbortsi, the former Communications Director of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), has alleged that a significant number of private senior high schools in Ghana have been converted into poultry and pig farms.
He claimed that approximately 40 to 50% of these previously popular schools have ceased operations.
He attributed this drastic shift to the challenges and frustrations faced by school proprietors following the implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
Speaking on Kasapa FM and monitored by Bulletin24, Gborgbortsi did not specify the names of the schools that have undergone such transformations.
He, however, suggested that there is a deliberate strategy to undermine private schools in favor of public education at the senior high school level.
He compared the current situation to the Nkrumah era’s one-party state, implying a move towards a public school monopoly.
According to Gborgbortsi, the suppression of private schools is strategically executed to eliminate competition for government schools.
He argued that allowing private schools to operate effectively alongside public schools, especially with the large number of students enrolled under the Free SHS policy, would reduce the rate of student absorption in public schools, potentially making private schools more attractive.
The former CCT official further criticized the system for its adverse impact on the nation, emphasizing the loss of potential tax revenue from private schools.
He recounted his personal experiences with the placement process for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates, noting that students from private schools faced challenges in securing placements in senior high schools.
