Former Minister casts doubt over Free SHS

Former Ashanti Regional Minister Peter Anefi Mensah has cast doubts over the success of government’s flagship policy- free SHS.

“I wish it is successful but I doubt, it is my wish that is should be successful, but I doubt the success of it. We are not saying it is not good to have free SHS but it should be progressively gradually. We would have given ourselves this year to study, to do the feasibility studies about how successful it will be,” he told Accra-based Radio Gold.

Government has said the policy, which is set to start in September, will be enjoyed by only students who pass their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Outlining the master plan for the policy, the Education Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh noted qualified students must also be placed under the current Computerized School Selection Placement System (CSSPS).

However, Mr. Mensah believes “instead of rushing into such programs, they could have deferred it to somewhere next year, next two years, by that time we will have been able to study the terrain, feasibility studies done and everything is okay, then we jump into it.

“A full year absorbed fee has not been paid, you compound it with this free program, well, let’s hope and see how successful it will be”.