Four years ago, free high schools were one of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign promises. In Ghana, it has made it possible for more than 430,000 young people to go to college and high school. they were just under 300,000 in 2016. This massive enrollment has caused congestion in schools, forcing students to switch to play. And critics are fired against this system by rotation. Back to a popular measure but which arouses the debate less than two weeks before the presidential election.
Like many parents in Ghana, George Tedeku welcomed the government’s plan to make high school education free. This reform, which was implemented in 2017, was intended to enable more young people to go to college, according to President Nana Akufo-Addo. But the tension that arose led to overcrowding in the schools and forced the students to switch to the lessons.
Extra cost
Which, according to George Tedeku, resulted in extra costs: “During the time my son goes to school, I spend more money on food and pocket money because he consumes more. Given that there are so many students; there is never anything in the dining room that he can eat. Before the introduction of free education in schools, I spent 1000 cedi or 140 euros at the end of the semester, now it is twice as much. “
Add to that the long periods at home where students wait their turn to return to class. During this time, they must be well fed and educated, by paying private lessons for those who have the means. Not easy for parents who do not have much money.
More schools?
Opposition presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama accuses the government of undermining the quality of education and promises to re-elect it to build more schools. As for the government, it promises to harmonize upper secondary education and recalls that the reform has made it possible for the poorest students to continue their studies.
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