The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has advised the government to review the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy and consider allowing families with the means to pay for their wards’ education while government support is directed at brilliant but needy students.
He proposed this suggestion during a courtesy call by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu.
The traditional ruler opined that the policy was a positive one but underscored the need for authorities to address the challenges confronting it.
“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.
“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 added.
He stressed “Those who can afford to pay, let’s have a second look at the policy, if someone can afford it, let’s allow them to pay. In the old times, when you have passed, the bursary would look for good but needy students and award them scholarship, and those who could afford to pay did so’’.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
