Calls for parents to assist in feeding will undermine objectives of Free SHS - Child Rights International

Child Rights International (CRI) has expressed concerns that calls for parents to assist in feeding students at Senior High Schools (SHSs) could undermine the Free SHS policy.

The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) recently issued a statement encouraging parents to provide food and provisions to support their wards in senior high schools due to insufficient funding to sustain the policy fully.

However, in a statement released on Saturday, January 11, 2025, CRI stated that this request undermines the core principles of the Free SHS policy, which aims to provide free and equitable access to secondary education, remove financial barriers, and promote inclusivity.

“The Free SHS programme was established to ensure that every child has access to quality education, regardless of their financial background,” the statement read. “Any effort to transfer responsibilities, such as feeding, to parents undermines the core intent of the policy and creates the inequities it was designed to address.”

CRI emphasized that addressing logistical challenges in implementing the Free SHS programme is the government's responsibility. The organization called on stakeholders to engage directly with authorities to secure the necessary resources to sustain the policy.

As of January 11, 2025, CRI noted, the Free SHS policy remains intact, with no official directive requiring parental contributions to support its implementation.

The organization urged stakeholders to adhere to the policy in its current form and to refrain from making changes without formal review and clear communication from the government.

Furthermore, CRI highlighted the importance of safeguarding the welfare of children, citing Ghana’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Act.

“As a nation, we have a responsibility to protect the interests of children and ensure that policies like the Free SHS programme serve their intended purpose effectively,” the statement concluded.

CRI remains committed to protecting the rights of children and ensuring that no actions undermine their access to education.