Free SHS at 9: Access up, but what about quality? – Centre for Policy Scrutiny to review programme

The Centre for Policy Scrutiny (CPS) is preparing to conduct a comprehensive review of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program, nine years after its inception. The organisation will host a public lecture on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, to examine the program beyond merely expanding access to secondary education. The review will scrutinize the consequences of the sudden surge in enrollment on learning outcomes, infrastructure, teaching resources, and overall student experience.

It will also evaluate the financial implications and whether the expanding enrollment has been met with the necessary resources to ensure quality education. Emmanuel Kweku Obeng-Adjei, Head of Corporate Affairs at CPS, emphasized the significance of this nine-year milestone, stating that it presents an opportunity for an unbiased assessment of the policy.

He clarified that the aim is not to label the program as a success or failure, but rather to delve into the evidence, identify the beneficiaries, pinpoint the shortcomings, and suggest improvements to bolster secondary education in Ghana. The evaluation will scrutinize whether the substantial increase in access to secondary education has been coupled with commensurate enhancements in quality.

Other aspects under examination will encompass enrollment rates, learning outcomes, the equitable distribution of benefits, and the sustainability of the program. Notable speakers for the public lecture include the Centre’s Executive Director, Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie, and a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba's Faculty of Liberal and Social Studies Education, Dr Jacob Oppong Nkansah.

CPS anticipates the active participation of policymakers, educators, researchers, civil society organizations, parents, students, and other stakeholders in the discourse. Mr Obeng-Adjei highlighted the overarching objective of generating ideas to fortify the program, emphasizing that Ghanaian children deserve not just the opportunity to attend senior high school, but also an education that prepares them for higher education, employment, and responsible citizenship.

The lecture will be broadcast live on the Centre for Policy Scrutiny's Facebook and YouTube platforms.