Some parents have expressed frustration about the inconsistency in government’s position on the future of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

Speaking for the National Council for Parents Teacher Associations (PTA), Madam Felicity Ahafianyo said the government “should simply make up its mind.”

“As parents, it has become a headache. We’ve been calling and asking that there should be a review. [Parents] of boarders have been paying feeding fees and the government comes in to support. They could have continued with the policy and maybe ask parents to pay 50 percent of the feeding fee so that the system runs smoothly.

“Now here we are, head teachers are complaining about food shortage,” she lamented.

The review of government’s Free SHS Policy is back in the limelight following contradictory statements by different government officials.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/ges-reviewing-free-shs-to-determine-how-much-parents-can-pay-prof-opoku-amankwah/

 Just last week, the Ghana Education Service and the Education Ministry contradicted each other on the matter of a possible review of the policy.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/free-shs-policy-not-under-review-education-ministry/

According to GES, the policy was being reviewed to determine how much parents can pay.

In response, the Education Ministry stated, “unequivocally that the Free SHS policy is not under review.”

https://www.myjoyonline.com/review-of-free-shs-constantly-on-the-table-ken-ofori-atta/

While presenting the Midyear Budget to Parliament earlier this week, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta insisted the policy together with other government interventions in the education sector was not up for review.

But in the latest twist, Mr. Ofori-Atta has said that review of the Free SHS Policy "is constantly a possibility on the table."