Ghana to spend over 90 million dollars annually as it commences free senior high school programme

desmond frimpong

September 11, 2017 1:10 PM

This development, experts believe could transform the lives of millions of youngsters, particularly girls.

Ghana has enrolled the first batch of Junior High School graduates in its free senior high school programme.

The programme aims to make senior high school free for all teenagers, regardless of their background.

President Nana Akufo-Addo promised to introduce the measure to fulfil a campaign pledge made during last December's election that brought him to power.

In Ghana, access to senior high school rest on how well a student performs during the entrance exam, available places and, crucially, being able to afford the fees. However, the government wants to redefine it by making it free for all who pass their entrance exams.

Akufo-Addo has also placed priority on girl child education. He believes that free schooling meant "more and more of our girls get access to affordable and quality education which is turn speeds up the development of our country.

"Achieving excellence in girls' education is a must if we are to shed off the evils of poverty, ignorance, and disease and put our country on the path of progress and prosperity," he added.

Currently, girl child education in the West African country, Ghana lag behind boys in school attendance by just over two years.

According to UN statistics from 2015 girls spent an average of 5.8 years in school compared with 7.9 for boys.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, the figures were 4.5 and 6.3; globally the average was 7.7 and 8.8.

The need for girls to finish school has been the subject of many global campaigns, which have highlighted their impact on improving problem areas such as child mortality and wages.

On the other hand, come education consultants say the free senior high initiative is a positive move but issues of equality still needed to be addressed across Ghana.

The government of Ghana has set some 400 million cedis aside for the scheme in this year's budget.

desmond frimpong