Free SHS Prospectus To Be Reduced, Some Items Are Not Needed – Education Minister

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has asserted that going forward, the free SHS Prospectus would be reduced drastically. According to him, some items on the list are not needed.

Speaking on Adom Fm’s DwasNsem show, Yaw Osei Adutwum revealed that the government introduced free senior high education to help the poor. However, some SHS headmasters do include certain items on the prospectus that doesn’t seem relevant. This is because, the Akufo Addo-led government provides a lot of items to various SHS in Ghana. Meanwhile, some of these items have also been indicated in the prospectus. He believes that this create another burden on parents.

“You will see what will happen soon. The prospectus will be reduced drastically. Some items are not needed to be on the list. Government has brought Free SHS to make the poor feel relieved, however this prospectus is still giving them problems. I still don’t understand.

It could be recalled that in February, this year, the Ghana Education Service served a notice to all heads in various senior high schools in the country about the issue of unapproved prospectus and also the sale of some items to the SHS 1 students which have not been authorized by GES.

GES has made it clear that it will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and any school official or headmaster found guilty would be brought to book.

GES stated that all parents should buy items from the open market and not in the schools their wards have been placed.

Below is the full statement by the GES to all heads in various SHS.

“It has come to the attention of the Management of the Ghana Education
Service that some Heads of Second Cycle Schools are issuing unapproved prospectus and also selling some of the items on the prospectus to Form One
students who report their schools for admission. Some Heads are also allegedly selling free items that are supplied by the government to the students.

Management of the Ghana Education Service takes strong exception to this practice, and wishes to state unequivocally that the practice is prohibited and must cease with immediate effect. Investigations will soon commence into the issues to ensure that the right things are done in our schools.

Heads of Second Cycle Schools are therefore, cautioned to stick to the approved harmonised prospectus for students. Any Head of School caught demanding any item(s) aside the approved ones will be severely sanctioned. Parents/Guardians should be allowed to buy the approved items on the prospectus from the open market not in the schools to avoid any conflict of
interest on the part of the school authorities.

By this letter, Regional Directors of Education are directed to visit Second
Cycle Schools in their jurisdiction to ensure that Heads of Schools comply with the above directives for a smooth admission process and effective
academic work for the Form Ones.”