According to Stephen Adei, a former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the implementation of the free senior high school programme has not resulted in pupils who are of lower quality than those who attended schools where the policy was not in place.

According to Prof. Adei, failure among senior high school pupils is a fundamental issue at the primary school level.

On Wednesday, August 23, he remarked, “It is scientifically shown that free SHS has not created lower quality pupils than when there was no free SHS. ” He was speaking at the TV3 National Level Dialogue on the theme, “Free SHS in perspective: The difficulties, progress, and possibilities.

About 40 to 50 percent of our pupils drop out of high school, which has nothing to do with the fact that it is free. It has to do with the primary school’s basis.

“Primary schools in Ghana are described by the World Bank as education without learning.”

Professor Stephen Adei added that the free senior high school initiative has his ardent support.

He claimed that as a former recipient of free education under Nkrumah, every Ghanaian should have access to education up to the high school level without being restricted because their parents cannot pay it.

“I am a fervent supporter of free SHS,” he declared. Every child in Ghana must be able to receive education through high school, not only primary education and unfettered by their parents’ incapacity for affairs.

“The Free SHS will be one of His Excellency the President’s greatest legacies,” he continued. There is no sane Ghanaian who would wish to end the free SHS policy.

He continued by saying that while the policy is wonderful, it needs to be improved so that no child is left behind.

Prof. Adei added that those pushing for a review of the free should not be considered adversaries of the government.

“Free SHS requires quality community schools,” he continued.