The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticised the current implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, particularly the school placement system, which he claims is undermining the intended benefits of the policy.

Speaking at the Leader’s Media Briefing in Parliament on Wednesday, October 22, Mr Afenyo-Markin acknowledged government claims that inflation is easing, but argued that this does not reflect the lived reality of many Ghanaians, particularly parents of students entering SHS this academic year.

“Whereas they would say that inflation has eased, we would want to look at the realities on the market,” he said.

“The recent SHS students who are going, parents are complaining that they have to buy everything. So, it really negates the import of the Free SHS.”

He pointed out that despite the policy’s promise to ease the financial burden on families, many parents are still being forced to bear substantial costs, including provisions and learning materials that should, in theory, be covered.

Afenyo-Markin also condemned the current school placement system, describing it as broken and burdensome.

He cited cases where students from places such as Winneba were being placed in schools as far away as Bawku or Koforidua distances that pose significant financial and logistical challenges for families.

“If somebody is in Winneba and then you place the person in Koforidua, or the person is going to Bawku from Winneba what is the gain?” he asked. “There is no value in Free SHS if accessibility becomes a burden.”

He insisted that the current system is a sharp departure from past practices, and called for an urgent review of the placement mechanism to make it more equitable and responsive to the needs of students and parents.

“The Free SHS placement system that has crashed must be looked at,” he stated. “It’s not the case in the past, and we challenge them on that.”

According to the Minority Leader, it is not only the political opposition raising concerns. He noted that several parents have taken to the media to complain about their children’s school placements and the unexpected expenses they are being forced to shoulder.

“It’s not the Minority that is saying so. Parents have had to complain about how their children were placed,” he said.