Free SHS has increased SHS enrolment but poorly targeted – IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) claims that the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, which was established in 2017, has improved second-cycle school enrollment among other things but that the program is inadequately targeted.

Before the nation’s $3 billion bailout was approved, a report was published that stated, “The flagship Free Senior High School, which covers the full cost of secondary education, has helped increase enrolment but is poorly targeted.”

Despite investing over 4% of GDP in education and seeing high enrollment numbers, the United States-based financial agency claimed that the nation’s learning achievements are subpar.

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) statement on the Free SHS policy comes after the IMF’s executive board authorized a long-awaited $3 billion bailout for Ghana in the hopes of resolving the country’s deteriorating economic crisis.

The agreement allows for the immediate release of $600 million, with the remaining monies made available over the next three years, according to a statement issued by the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday.

The Free Senior High School (Free SHS) education program was launched in September 2017 by President Nana Akufo-Addo to let eligible BECE students to continue their secondary education at no expense.

The policy’s primary concepts of access, equity, and equality are in line with the United Nations’ revised Sustainable Development Goals, which member countries have adopted.

Source: Academicweek.com/