3.9 million have benefitted from Free SHS and not 5.1 million — Haruna Iddrisu

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has refuted claims that 5.1 million students had benefited from the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy as reported by the previous government, warning that the inflated figures could lead to financial mismanagement and resource wastage.

He explained that the actual number stood at 3.9 million, hence using inflated numbers for planning and expenditure has had significant implications for government spending.

Mr Iddrisu said this at his first official meeting with the ministry’s development partners on Wednesday.

The meeting with about 17 development partners focused on strengthening collaboration to enhance the country’s education sector.

Inflated figures

“Someone may have been using the inflated 5.1 million figure for other purposes because based on my assessment of the statistics, this number is inaccurate. The actual number of Ghanaian students benefiting from the policy stands at 3.9 million.”

“If someone planned and allocated resources, especially for food, based on the 5.1 million figure, imagine the harm it has caused to the state and the Republic,” Mr Iddrisu said.

He further called for a review of the sustainability of the policy, citing concerns over its impact on the fair allocation of resources to other critical areas, particularly Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).

He revealed that over GH¢7 billion had been spent on the initiative since its inception in 2017.

While the policy had significantly increased access to secondary education, he said it had also placed a financial strain on the overall education budget.

“The constitution imposes a burden on us to provide progressive free secondary education; however, the current expenditure on Free SHS has limited the fair allocation of resources to other areas, “Mr Iddrisu said. 

Infrastructure challenge

He warned of an impending infrastructure crisis due to the rapid expansion of SHS enrolment without corresponding investments to absorb graduates at the tertiary level.

“If we do not prepare adequately, we may face a major infrastructure crisis in the coming years. We need significant investment in infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of students,” he said.

To tackle those challenges, Mr Iddrisu proposed a strategic reallocation of resources from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).

He suggested a 40-20-20-20 formula, where 40 per cent of GETFund resources would be allocated to its core mandate, 20 per cent to FCUBE, 20 per cent to administrative expenditures and 20 per cent to complementary education initiatives.

“This formula ensures that every component of the education sector benefits from GETFund interventions,” he explained.

Uncapping GETFund

Mr Iddrisu also advocated that the GETFund be uncapped, arguing that it could free up GH¢3.2 billion to GH¢4 billion, potentially increasing the fund’s total resources to GH¢7.9 billion.

“Uncapping GETFund will provide the necessary resources to address the infrastructure deficit and other pressing needs in the education sector,” he stated.

Food procurement

To improve food supply in schools, Mr Iddrisu announced a shift to decentralised procurement, making headmasters and headteachers the focal points.

He said the government had planned to leverage the Ghana Commodity Exchange and Buffer Stock Company for better food distribution.

He disclosed that GH¢100 million had already been released to address immediate food shortages, with another GH¢100 million needed for the next month.

“We are working with the World Food Programme to ensure timely and nutritious food supplies for schools,” he added.

Ending double track

To phase out the double-track system, the minister proposed integrating private schools into the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) which will allow them to absorb up to 150,000 students.

“The private sector can play a key role in alleviating pressure on public schools.

“With the right training and support, they can help us transition out of the double-track system,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu reiterated the need for a national debate on the future of Free SHS and the broader education system.

He stressed the importance of sustainable financing, equitable resource allocation and strategic planning to ensure the long-term success of Ghana’s education policies.