Editorial: Government’s Decision To Create Dedicated Funding For Free SHS Is Welcome

President John Dramani Mahama revealed that the government has allocated dedicated funds for the Free Senior High School (SHS) program to prevent funding delays to schools. This move has improved food supplies and lowered complaints from senior high school heads. The government is collaborating with the World Bank on a $300 million facility to phase out the double-track system by year-end 2027, allowing students to attend school simultaneously and enhancing teacher-student interaction.

The World Bank has approved the $300 million STARR-J project to bolster learning spaces, teaching quality, and skills development in public secondary schools.

Mahama also addressed recent examination results, attributing the improved accuracy to stricter invigilation and reduced examination malpractice. He clarified that no Cabinet approval was granted for the wholesale introduction of Arabic and Chinese languages into public schools. Arabic teacher training aims to assist existing English-Arabic schools catering to Muslim communities.

He questioned the logic of introducing Chinese when Ghana is still grappling with effective French instruction and emphasized that significant curriculum changes require Cabinet approval.

The President's remarks on education warrant a critical examination: while Free SHS has increased access to secondary education, it has also strained infrastructure, teacher capacities, and school management. The World Bank acknowledges that enrollment surged after Free SHS was launched in 2017, exceeding available infrastructure and teacher resources. Consequently, the double-track system persists, causing disruptions to learning.

To The Chronicle, government's creation of dedicated funding for Free SHS is commendable. However, timely releases must be accompanied by transparent, predictable, and accountable financing to enable schools and suppliers to plan confidently. Ending the double-track system by 2027 is a significant step, with the 2026 Budget allocating GH¢1.1 billion towards this goal.

The World Bank's approved $300 million secondary-education project will support the expansion and enhancement of learning spaces and improve teaching quality. Yet, government must ensure that new classrooms do not become the sole measure of success. Adequate qualified teachers, laboratories, libraries, digital facilities, and instructional materials are essential to transform increased access into meaningful educational outcomes.

Mahama's stance on examination malpractice warrants serious consideration. Stricter invigilation is encouraging, as it yields assessments that more accurately reflect students' abilities, but it should not be politicized. The country must resist the urge to judge education solely on impressive grades. Accurate measurement of learning deficits is crucial for policymakers to address inadequate learning effectively.

The controversy surrounding Arabic and Chinese languages in basic schools highlights another weakness: poor communication surrounding curriculum reform. The National Curriculum Council's (NaCCA) existing curriculum already acknowledges French and Arabic as language learning areas. While curriculum development should aim to build competencies rather than merely increase subject offerings, expansion must be driven by educational necessity, teacher availability, and national priorities rather than public enthusiasm or political discourse.

Ghana should shift focus from merely ensuring children are in school to assessing whether they are learning, receiving honest evaluations, and acquiring an education capable of preparing them for work and citizenship. This is the benchmark by which Free SHS must be judged in the long run.