Former Finance Minister Seth Terkper has suggested that Ghana should limit its free senior high school (SHS) programme to day students in order to reduce the financial strain on the government.
He drew comparisons to education systems in the United States and Europe, where boarding schools are typically reserved for exceptional or needy students who receive scholarships.
Terkper raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s current free SHS programme, which has cost the government GHS 9.9 billion since its introduction in 2017 under President Akufo-Addo’s administration.
He questioned why the government should continue to bear the full cost, especially when many developed nations provide free secondary education for day students, often with transportation, while reserving boarding school placements for academically gifted or financially disadvantaged students.
When asked about funding strategies under a potential Mahama administration, Terkper suggested that engaging the Ghanaian diaspora could play a key role in supporting the programme.
He emphasized that adopting a more targeted approach to free SHS could ensure its sustainability without overburdening the state.
