The Centre for Policy Scrutiny (CPS) is set to review Ghana's Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme nine years after its implementation. The public lecture, scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 2026, will assess the programme's impact on learning outcomes, infrastructure, teaching and learning resources, and the overall experience of students.
Examining Quality Amid Expansion
The Centre's review will go beyond the programme's expansion of access to secondary education. According to Emmanuel Kweku Obeng-Adjei, Head of Corporate Affairs at CPS, the nine-year milestone provides an opportunity for an objective assessment of the policy. "Free SHS has fundamentally changed access to secondary education in Ghana. But nine years into its implementation, the national conversation must also ask what has happened to the programme's quality, outcomes, and sustainability," he said.
Assessing Financial Implications
CPS will also assess the financial implications of the programme and whether the expansion in enrolment has been matched by the resources needed to sustain quality education. According to Mr. Obeng-Adjei, the Centre is not seeking to frame the programme as either a success or failure. "Our interest is not to reduce the discussion to whether Free SHS has succeeded or failed. We want to examine the evidence, understand who has benefited, identify the gaps and contribute ideas that can strengthen secondary education in Ghana," he added.
Interrogating Claims and Sustainability
The assessment will interrogate claims that although millions of young people have gained access to secondary education, many may not be acquiring the requisite knowledge and skills. It will also examine whether the gains in access have been accompanied by corresponding improvements in quality. The Centre will focus on enrolment levels, learning outcomes, the distribution of benefits, and the sustainability of the programme. According to Mr. Obeng-Adjei, the ultimate goal is to ensure that increased access is matched by quality education and meaningful outcomes.
What's Next for Free SHS?
The public lecture, featuring the Executive Director of the Centre, Dr. Adu Owusu Sarkodie, and a lecturer at the Faculty of Liberal and Social Studies Education of the University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Jacob Oppong Nkansah, is expected to generate ideas that can strengthen the programme. The Centre expects policymakers, educationists, researchers, civil society organisations, parents, students, and other stakeholders to participate in the discussion. The lecture will be streamed live on the Centre for Policy Scrutiny's Facebook and YouTube platforms.
Source: Joy Online
