Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Achimota School has stated that the Free Senior High School programme, has to some extent, affected the quality of education.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show, Wednesday, June 9, Dr. Andre Kwesi-Kumah indicated that the programme "has taken a lot of resources, which could have helped enhance education, out of the system.

"It could have been better. For instance, when the double track started, there were challenges of teacher availability, teacher quality etc. There's a strain on resources, there are more students there and the classrooms may have not expanded, parents too have complained about the double-track," he said.

The comment was part of his contribution to discussions on the role of PTAs in the development of the schools since the implementation of the free SHS policy.

During the discussion, Dr Kwasi-Kumah told cohosts, Kojo Yankson and Winston Amoah that Parent-Teacher Associations have been very instrumental in the development of schools over the years. However, a ban on PTA levies, imposed by the Ghana Education Service, has dwindled their resources such that they are no longer able to carry out various projects that will inure to the benefit of students and the schools at large.

That notwithstanding, he's optimistic that things could get better if parents are allowed to support with funds.

"I think what we can do is to let parents who can pay, pay and then limit the free SHS to needy students only," he said.

Dr Kwasi-Kumah used the opportunity to appeal to parents to support the activities of PTAs.