Professor Martin Oteng Ababio, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, has voiced concerns over the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, stating that its implementation has worsened the challenges facing the education sector.

He argued that while the policy has led to increased enrollment in universities, the government has made minimal efforts to expand infrastructure in tertiary institutions to accommodate the surge in students.

Speaking to the media during a campaign outreach by lecturers to promote awareness of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto, Prof. Ababio noted that the strain on university facilities has become more evident since the introduction of the Free SHS policy.

He believes the lack of adequate infrastructure has hindered the quality of tertiary education despite the rise in student numbers.

In light of these challenges, Prof. Ababio praised the NDC’s plan to review the Free SHS policy, as outlined in their manifesto.

He expressed confidence that a thorough review would address the gaps in the current system and improve the overall quality of education in Ghana.

“The free SHS has helped. But it has spelt the doom of the whole educational system. The number of students that are getting into the university has increased tremendously. Lectures have not increased. The lecture halls have not increased. The residential halls have not increased."

“So we are compromising, and I am a lecturer, we are compromising quality for quantity. In a sense today, if you come to Legon, you enter a lecture hall to find 600, 800 students in one room."

“That makes it very difficult to reach out to each and every one. How many essays can you mark a day? And how many essays can you give to a student?”