Last year, all 554,000 SHS students in Ghana were enrolled for free. The idea of universal access is noble, but it is also financially unsustainable in its current form. Critical areas like school feeding, infrastructure, and quality learning materials continue to suffer because government shoulders the entire cost burden. It is time to rethink the policy, not abandon it.

A simple adjustment can make Free SHS sustainable: schools should reserve 20% of admissions for fee-paying students while keeping 80% of places free for those who cannot afford. This tiered model balances access with equity. It also allows Ghana to generate the resources needed to improve the system without over-relying on the national budget.

The numbers speak for themselves. If 20% of SHS students paid an average fee of 4,000 cedis per year, the state would raise 2.2 billion cedis annually. That is enough to fix school feeding, renovate classrooms, and provide textbooks, laboratories, and technology support across the country.

Parents are already showing the willingness to pay for quality education. Many commit 7,000 cedis yearly for their children at private primary schools like Datus. Why would such parents not gladly pay half that amount to secure SHS education at institutions like Achimota, Presec, Holy Child, Mawuli, or Accra Academy, whose brand prestige and academic records far outshine most private schools?

These strong-brand schools attract high demand. Parents lobby, plead, and compete fiercely for admission slots. If 20% of those slots are openly reserved for fee-paying students, it will not only provide transparency but also allow the system to capture revenue that would otherwise flow into private institutions. The fees paid by willing parents can be reinvested to uplift the quality of education for the majority who remain under the free model.

This proposal is not about scrapping Free SHS. It is about securing its future. By letting those who can afford pay, we ensure that the poor are protected, the system is sustained, and the quality of education improves for everyone. Free SHS must evolve beyond the idea that every student must pay nothing. Instead, it must become a fair system where willingness and ability to contribute strengthens the foundation for all.

Policymakers must be bold. A 20% fee-paying, 80% free model is the compromise that balances access with sustainability. It guarantees opportunity for the poor while tapping into the financial strength of the middle class. That is how Free SHS can move from just being a populist promise to becoming a lasting, quality-driven national investment.