NEF stakeholders proposes ‘fee’ paying for all public SHS boarders

Stakeholders at the ongoing National Education Forum (NEF) in the education sector have proposed that the central government make students in various government second-cycle schools under the Free Senior High School policy pay for their boarding and feeding fees.

They at the ongoing Education Forum (NEF) suggested that only second-cycle school day students should be allowed to attend school for free in order to alleviate some of the financial burdens on the government.

The education sector stakeholders said the proposed funding model would promote quality education since the central government would have enough resources to invest in other sectors of education.

The stakeholders gave the recommendations after group discussions on five thematic areas, namely infrastructure, including physical and educational technology; quality education provision, education financing, regulatory and accountability systems, and evidence for decision making.

The stakeholder groups included members of academia, civil society organisations, students, parents, teacher unions, vice-chancellors, regional directors of education, and directors of technical and vocational education and training.

Stakeholders from the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western North zones made the proposal during the current National Education Forum (NEF) in Sunyani last Monday.

The education stakeholders emphasized the necessity for schools, especially Senior High Schools, to engage in farming in order to generate income and help with student food.

Additionally, they encouraged the government to enable the various scholarship programs so that students, especially those at the tertiary level, can access the cash.

The majority of the scholarship programs only existed in name, according to the stakeholders, and students were unable to use them.

According to the participants, financial difficulties continue to be a significant source of frustration for many students, which has an impact on their academic performance.

Additionally, they urged the Ministry of Education to make sure that qualified educators were assigned to classrooms and that professional development and refresher courses were regularly scheduled for them.

In other news, Former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, has advised the central government that to alleviate pressure on the government budget, all Free SHSs should adopt day schooling exclusively.

According to him, the entrenched legacy of Free SHS in the system should transform a day school system rather than a boarding school system.

Speaking during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on March 4, he emphasised that no advanced country implements free secondary education with a boarding system.

“Tell me which advanced country has a free secondary education which comes with boarding with all fees and everything paid…the public schools are all day.

Have not seen the old style boardination when government takes all the responsibility it is in enormous,” he added.

Mr. Terkper emphasised the advantages of Free SHS but recommended adopting a day system for students to ease the pressure on the government, considering the extensive responsibilities in education.

He said free SHS is a legacy, therefore it is important maintaining it, suggesting the government could have made boarding students pay to share responsibilities and ease the burden on the government.

The former finance minister emphasizes that with education being extensive, expecting the government to bear the entire responsibility of free SHS might not be beneficial for Ghana’s economy, especially considering its low-income status.