Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has called for a review of the Free SHS policy, suggesting those who can afford should pay, while government supports brilliant but needy students.
he Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on the government to revisit the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, urging authorities to consider allowing families with the means to pay for their wards’ education while government support is directed at brilliant but needy students.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, Otumfuo acknowledged the importance of the policy but emphasized the need for a national dialogue to address its current shortcomings.
“This Free SHS we are talking about, although we have implemented it, if we have a dialogue and find out that it will result in students coming home every now and then because there is no food, then it is not fit for purpose,” he said.
The Asantehene expressed concern over the infrastructural and logistical challenges faced by many senior high schools, including overcrowded dormitories, lack of science and ICT labs, shortage of food, and insufficient school buses.
“Our dormitories are overcrowded, lack of science and ICT labs. Sometimes PTA makes contributions to support. Lack of school buses and shortage of food should all be looked at,” he noted.
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