Spare parents free SHS funding burden — Child Rights

The Executive Director of Child Rights International, Bright Kweku Appiah, has stated that any review of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy should not include asking parents to shoulder the cost of feeding and accommodation for students. 

He described such proposals as a direct threat to the fundamental principles of the policy.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Appiah argued that the Free SHS programme was designed to eliminate financial barriers and promote inclusiveness, warning that shifting costs to parents would undermine those objectives.

“The Free SHS programme was established to ensure free and equitable access to secondary education, removing financial barriers and promoting inclusivity. Any effort to transfer responsibilities such as feeding to parents undermines the core intent of the policy and creates inequities it was designed to address,” he stated.  

Government responsibility

Mr Appiah emphasised that addressing logistical challenges in the Free SHS policy's implementation lay with the government authorities, not families.

He cautioned that placing such a financial burden on parents would exacerbate the difficulties many already faced.  

“When logistical challenges arise in the implementation of the Free SHS programme, it is essential for stakeholders to engage directly with the government to secure the necessary resources. Shifting these responsibilities to parents not only deviates from the policy's framework but also places undue pressure on families, many of whom are already facing economic hardship,” he explained. 
 

No official directive 

Mr Appiah, however, clarified that, as of now, there was no formal directive requiring parents to contribute financially to the programme.  

“As of today, the Free SHS policy remains intact, with no official directive requiring parental contributions to support its implementation. Any changes to the policy must come through formal review and clear communication from the government,” he added.  

Children’s welfare

Highlighting Ghana’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Act, Mr Appiah stressed the importance of prioritising children’s welfare in any policy adjustments.  

“Under no circumstances should children be impacted by the lack of food or any other basic necessity. It is our duty to ensure that children fully benefit from policies designed to support them, such as the Free SHS programme,” he said.  

Constructive engagement

Mr Appiah urged stakeholders to collaborate with the government in addressing challenges while maintaining the integrity of the Free SHS policy.  

“Protecting a social policy is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders and beneficiaries. When challenges arise, it is crucial for them to be circumspect in how they communicate about the policy's implementation and progression,” he concluded.