The General Secretary of the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations in Ghana (NCPTA), Raphael Kofi Gapson, has called for greater parental support in the implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, arguing that government alone cannot shoulder the full financial burden of the programme.
Speaking during Adom TV’s thought leadership discussion on “The Future of Free SHS: Sustain, Reform or Redesign?”, Mr. Gapson said while government should continue to provide free access to secondary education, parents who are financially capable should contribute towards certain expenses.
“Government cannot bear all the cost, so parents should also be responsible for certain expenses,” he said.
According to him, the priority for government should be to ensure that schools provide a conducive learning environment where students can thrive academically.
“The most important thing is to make sure the learning environment is conducive for students to learn well,” he stated.
Mr. Gapson also challenged political leaders to demonstrate confidence in the public education system by enrolling their own children in Free SHS schools.
“If government truly believes in Free SHS, then they should let their own children attend these schools. Many of them take their children to private schools,” he remarked.
He further observed that the provision of free school uniforms should not be treated as a major priority, noting that worn or patched uniforms have never prevented students from learning.
“A tattered uniform is simply an indication that you are a pupil,” he said.
Despite calling for reforms, Mr. Gapson acknowledged the significant impact the policy has had on Ghana’s education sector.
“Free SHS has transformed secondary education, and we need to protect it,” he said.
However, he stressed that preserving the programme’s gains would require reforms to improve financing, infrastructure, teaching and learning conditions, and the overall quality of education.
“We need reforms to ensure the policy remains sustainable and continues to deliver quality education for future generations,” Mr. Gapson added.
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