Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Dr Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, has debunked claims that the government is ignoring countless calls for the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy to be reviewed.

According to her, the process of policy review is similar to policy formation, which entails specific terms and procedures.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews' AM Show on April 25, she explained that a policy review involves a thorough overhaul of the existing system to ensure the policy's objectives are achieved and to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Dr Tsiboe-Darko argued that the government is currently collecting data to facilitate a smooth review and to avoid repeating errors.

“I do not think that there is a disconnect, between being in academia and knowing what a policy review process is actually about. It is not as easy as just calling for a review and then you quickly review it.

“You have to address the challenges, improve upon it and then if you want a policy review it is a whole overhaul of what is being implemented.

"Now one of the main things is that if you have not tried to address the challenges and you review it, you risk actually repeating the same mistakes.

"You have to ensure that you have completed what we call the policy schedule. So you get to a stage where you have looked at the challenges, you have made suggestions, you have worked on what the document itself contains and then you can go into it,” she said.

The Executive Director advised students to pay little attention to criticism about the policy and to focus on their studies.

She stressed that despite the backlash, the policy has saved many young individuals from enduring hardship to see themselves through school.

“I went through seven years of secondary school education...the food was not perfect...secondary school food is never perfect. We managed, we coped, and we enjoyed it.

“I am sorry to say, and I also include my children in it. The generation of this day is different. They should be a little bit more accepting. I used to farm, and I am so proud. I went to Saint Roses Secondary for seven years.

“We used to farm; we go and collect cassava, and we bring the cassava and eat it on Saturday. Cassava leaf stew and you will see the leaves swimming in it, but we ate it and we enjoyed it. That is what built our resilience and our strength," she said.