The effect of free SHS policy on private schools in Volta Region, Ghana

Abstract

Education remains one of the most important tools for unlocking and nurturing the potential of a people. It is widely valued across the world as a central factor in the economic, political, and social development of any country. Following the widespread adoption of free basic education as a result of global and international conditions and support, African policymakers are now considering making secondary education free. To humanists, education is a human right, and so its denial is an abuse of human rights. Its impacts permeate every aspect of the social fabric and can be felt in all parts of human life. It is therefore prudent to treat its provision with care and passion. Educational policies need to be treated apolitically. Collaboration and consensus with all the industry players is one way to guarantee its quality, availability, accessibility, and sustainability. As sacred as it is, its policy formulations must be circumspect of the environment factors, either internal or external: prevailing socio-economic conditions, value and interest, affordability, and the future of education. This study sought to find the effect of the FSHS policy on the enrolment, income, and administration of the private schools in the Volta region. The study employs of a qualitative method with a case study design. The free senior high school policy in Ghana was rolled out in 2017 across the nation. It is a departure from the progressive implementation of this directive principle of state policy on education as captured in Article 25(1) (b) of the 1992 Constitution. The study revealed that the policy has negatively affected the enrolment, income, and administration of the private senior high schools in the study area. It therefore recommends the inclusion of the private senior high schools in the policy, the government’s collaboration with the private senior high schools in the region in providing senior high school education to all Ghanaians, a level playing field for all players in the education sector, and the government's assistance to the private senior high schools.