Political Issues associated with Passing the Free SHS Bill

Political Issues associated with Passing the Free SHS Bill

In the 2017-18 academic year, the Ghanaian government introduced the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme through an administrative directive.

Seven years later, the government intends to formalize this initiative by presenting a bill to Parliament that will give legislative backing to the programme.

This upcoming legislation faces the complex challenge of balancing the policy imperatives of free education with the current political dynamics.

The Policy Imperatives and Rationale for Free SHS

Article 25 (1) of Ghana’s constitution guarantees every Ghanaian the right to “equal educational opportunities and facilities.”

Specifically, Article 25(1)(b) states that “secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular, by the progressive introduction of free education.”

The constitutional mandate is clear: education must be accessible and free for all Ghanaians. To operationalize this mandate, former President John Mahama’s administration introduced the Progressively Free SHS Programme during the 2015-16 academic year.

Initially, this programme was limited to day students and covered specific fees, such as examination and library fees.

The current Free SHS Programme, however, covers all approved fees for boarding and day students in public secondary schools, including those in agricultural, vocational, and technical schools.

This comprehensive coverage addresses a significant barrier to secondary education: cost.

When passed, the legislation will codify several key aspects of the Free SHS programme, including the policy rationale, rules of eligibility, and standardization of what the programme covers.

Currently, the government has made ad hoc expenditures post-implementation, such as providing WASSCE candidates with practice exams, which will be standardized under the new law.

Political Dynamics and Historical Context

The legislative process for the Free SHS programme must navigate a deeply polarized political environment.

Ghana’s two main political parties—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—have long debated the merits and implementation strategies of free secondary education.

This debate began in earnest in 2012 when the NPP made free senior high school education a central part of its election campaign.

ALSO READ: NaCCA: What does the New JHS & SHS curriculum seek to achieve?

The political discourse has evolved along several lines:

1. Progressively Free (NDC) vs. Completely Free (NPP):The debate has not been about whether to make education free, but rather about the pace at which this constitutional mandate should be realized.

2. Free Education (NPP) vs. Quality Education (NDC): Here, the focus is on whether it is more crucial to address quality issues in the education sector before tackling cost issues.

3. Review (NDC) vs. Cancellation (NPP): Post-implementation challenges have led the NDC to call for a comprehensive review of the programme, which the NPP interprets as an attempt to cancel it.

Current Political Realities

The current political landscape complicates the legislative process.

The Parliament is evenly split between the NPP and the NDC, which has already influenced legislative activities and debates on various matters, including the budget and other key policies.

Introducing the Free SHS Bill in this environment, especially in an election year, adds another layer of complexity.

Candidates’ positions on the bill could be framed as partisan, and any suggestions for improvement or eligibility adjustments may be weaponized against those who propose them.

The Path to Reconciliation

A bill providing legislative backing to the Free SHS programme is long overdue. For this to happen, the NPP and NDC must find common ground.

This requires moving beyond binary arguments of review vs. cancellation, good policy vs. bad policy, and free vs. quality education.

Achieving this reconciliation will demand a willingness to prioritize the educational needs of Ghanaian students over partisan interests.

Whether this will happen remains to be seen, as it will depend on the political will and collaborative spirit of the legislators involved.

By framing the Free SHS programme within a legislative context, Ghana can ensure its sustainability and effectiveness, ultimately benefiting generations of students to come.

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