{
  "id": 12697239,
  "title": "Education Minister disputes Bawumia’s claims of decline in Free SHS",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/education-minister-disputes-bawumias-claims-of-decline-in-free-shs",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T19:44:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/education-minister-disputes-bawumias-claims-of-decline-in-free-shs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has refuted claims by NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia that the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme has declined under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration. Despite Bawumia's concerns about the programme's implementation, Iddrisu maintains that the government inherited existing challenges and is actively working to improve them. He dismisses allegations that students are not receiving adequate food, stating that the government has reviewed funding arrangements and uncapped the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to ensure improved food supplies across all senior high schools. Iddrisu also refutes Bawumia's assertion that the NPP introduced free tuition under the Free SHS programme, emphasizing that tuition has been free in Ghana since independence. Iddrisu reaffirms the government's dedication to addressing the Free SHS programme's challenges and enhancing conditions for students and educational institutions.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "3News",
        "title": "Haruna Iddrisu responds to Bawumia's claims on Free SHS",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/haruna-iddrisu-responds-to-bawumias-claims-on-free-shs",
        "published": "2026-10-07T15:31:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Haruna Iddrisu rejects Bawumia’s claims of Free SHS setbacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/haruna-iddrisu-rejects-bawumias-claims-of-free-shs-setbacks",
        "published": "2026-10-07T17:40:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Starr FM",
        "title": "Free SHS not in crisis but “firmly on course” — Iddrisu hits back at Bawumia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/free-shs-not-in-crisis-but-firmly-on-course-iddrisu-hits-back-at",
        "published": "2026-10-07T18:14:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}