Free SHS is Poorly Targeted- IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described government Free Senior High School Policy as poorly targeted.
The IMF made this observation in its latest country’s report on Ghana, requesting for a $3 billion bailout.
The IMF has disclosed that the country (Ghana) spends close to 4% of it GDP on Education with good results interms of enrolment but poor learning outcome.
According to statistics, the Free SHS has enjoyed a budgetary allocation of more than Ghc 11.3 billion since 2019.
It also mentioned that the “total number of beneficiaries currently stands at 1.3 million students for the 2021/22 academic year” and this year, “government will continue with the implementation of the Free SHS Programme and continue to facilitate access to various educational items.”
In July 2022, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta said a review of the Free Senior High School policy remains a constant possibility.
He explained that the Education Ministry continues to look at the policy with the aim of understanding how parents can be included in a manner that is not coercive.
